Ocean Reef Club
Humble Origins
Ocean Reef Club’s humble origins can be traced back to the 1940s and a small plot of land tucked away in the Upper Keys named Dispatch Creek Fishing Camp. Only accessible via the water or a dirt road, the less-than-40-acre camp boasted just four ramshackle cabins, several docks and a small harbor. That is until Minneapolis developer and Ocean Reef Founder Morris Baker purchased the land in 1945 and, with an incredible vision, laid the foundation for what would transform into a club steeped in history and tradition, where generations of families would create cherished memories.
By 1948, Ocean Reef consisted of an inn, some small yachtels, a coffee shop, a lounge, a gas station, a few rental boats, and the water tower. Through the years that followed, Ocean Reef Club endured and flourished, and when Members had the opportunity to buy the Club in 1993, the decision was an enthusiastic “yes,” and a new legacy of excellence began.
Explore ORC History Firsthand
For those eager to immerse themselves in the full history of Ocean Reef Club, the Cultural Center’s Museum, open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., provides a window into the Club’s past. While there, don’t overlook the historic Baker Yachtel – one of the original 1940s free-standing motel units.
Key Historical Articles
To truly understand the journey of Ocean Reef Club, the following articles, all of which have previously appeared in the Ocean Reef Press, detail pivotal moments and figures in the Club’s storied past.
To dive even further into the Club’s history, you can pick up a copy of the Ocean Reef history book, “On the Reef, The Legendary Ocean Reef Club and the People Who Made it Great,” written by the late Dick Farmer and Shirley Shipley, at the Burgee Shop and Gift Shop.
Ocean Reef Founding Fathers
Ocean Reef Club would not be where it is today without the foresight and credence of its most important figures. The Founding Fathers of Ocean Reef Club are recognized in the Reef Lounge and on the Wall of Fame in the Cultural Center Museum.
The Founders include…
• Morris and Alice Baker
• Roger and Bill Baker
• Harper Sibley
• Tom N. Davidson
• Carl H. Lindner
• Alan J. Goldstein
• Richard T. Farmer
The Birth of Our Club
In 1993, the Members purchased Ocean Reef Club. To celebrate this defining moment in honor of the Club’s 70/40 Anniversary Celebration, on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, two of the Club’s Founding Fathers shared with Members the colorful, and often tenuous, manner in which it was done. In this special presentation, former Chairmen and Acquisition Committee members, Alan Goldstein and Tom Davidson, took Members back to the early 90’s with the story of the Buyout and the events surrounding the momentous occasion. Mixed in with the history are insider tales, from the laundry catching on fire, to the fireworks dud at the millennium party.
Steeped in Tradition
Ocean Reef Club’s longstanding traditions make up the fabric of the community. Some even with histories spanning over half a century, are celebrated by Members and their families with the same enthusiasm as when they first began. Here are some of Ocean Reef’s most cherished events and traditions that have become much more than just gatherings:
• Member-Guest Golf Tournament – since 1971
• Member-Guest Tennis Tournament – since 1973
• Bag Room Open – since 1977
• Reef Cup Invitational Sailfish Tournament – since 1986
• Triple Golf Classic – since 1993
• Equity Welcome Back “The Gathering” – since 1993
• Canadian Weekend – since 1992
• Vintage Weekend – since 1993
• Holiday Concert – since 1997
• Festival on the Green – since 2000
• Grand Masters Golf & Fishing Tournament – since 2001
• Sailfish Classic – since 2010
• Blessing of the Animals – since 2014
• Food & Wine Festival – since 2014
• Member-Guest Pickleball Tournament – since 2018