As our seasonal Clear Lakers return to our charming lake town, one place will fill again with the sights and sounds of summer for the 130th year.
The Outing Club, established in 1895, is thought to be Iowa’s first cooperative housing structure. Community based but independently owned, the cottages that form the club are linked by a common roof and countless relationships.
From the street side, the Outing Club looks like a ramshackle building with the various rooflines. Most cottages added space by expanding up with second stories.
It’s on the lakeside that this one of a kind building opens her arms to embrace lake living. The long and lovely veranda invites residents to take a chair and catch a cooling breeze or watch the ever changing show.
Although most cottages have been updated with all the comforts of modern life, the communal dining room still offers meals in a unique setting.
No matter where you live, you too can enjoy the lake from a beautiful spot. Take a chair to the sea wall for a spectacular sunset. Spend time at McIntosh quietly watching the wildlife. Walk the undeveloped shoreline along Farmers Beach. Wherever you decide to land, our lake beckons with incredible beauty.
Photos from the CLPL history collection.
