A private outing club on Bear Lake, Michigan
Generations of families, summers on the water — and a shoreline kept the way we found it.
Our vision
“The Dayton Bear Lake Outing Club is a welcoming community that honors its historic heritage and rural charm. Committed to environmental stewardship, we celebrate traditions, foster camaraderie, and work together to preserve the natural beauty of Bear Lake for current and future generations.”
Adopted by the Board · January 2025
The Dayton Bear Lake Outing Club is a private outing club on the shore of Bear Lake in Manistee County, Michigan. Founded by families from Dayton, Ohio, the club has been passed down through generations who return each summer for the same simple things: the water, the woods, and each other.
The club exists to safeguard its stretch of lake frontage from development and to preserve the natural character of the shoreline — a shared beach, docks, and quiet woods held in common by its member families.
Membership is by invitation. If you have a connection to the club, the board would be glad to hear from you below. Members: explore a century of club history.
Every summer
One weekend a year, the whole lake is a leaderboard. Weigh-ins, photo votes, youth prizes, and a records board with long memories. Members can find rules, standings, and photos inside.
Questions about the club, the grounds, or an invitation? Send a note and a board member will reply by email.
Dayton Bear Lake Outing Club
Bear Lake, MI 49614