The Oconomowoc Lake Club, organized in 1890, was founded, in part, as an improvement association in order that certain lake levels and inter-lake traffic might be maintained and facilitated.

A lock was proposed to control the level of the Lake where it flowed out to the Oconomowoc River. The Lake Club installed the Danforth Lock thereby solving the problems of lake levels, mosquito and malaria control. A mail boat then was able to come through the lock from Oconomowoc. It stopped at piers around the Lake to deliver mail twice a day, as well as groceries ordered from Vromans! The lock is now cemented shut, but the dam is operated regularly to manage water levels on Oconomowoc Lake

The history of the Oconomowoc Lake Club is inextricably tied to the history of the Villa Gifford, known as the Gifford Hotel in the 1800’s.  Originally a home, the geniality of Mr. George P. Gifford, coupled with the imposing site and recreational attributes of Oconomowoc Lake, resulted in Mr. Gifford’s friends enjoying his food, weekend lodging and recreational activities. In the late 1860’s, he opened his home to selected guests and over the years added to the physical structure to create an imposing elegantly simple Hotel. The Hotel predated the founding of the OLC, and the first nineteen years of the OLC meetings and activities occurred at the Gifford Hotel which was located just west of the present Lake Club.

A new club house was completed in the summer of 1909 and proudly served it's members until on December 17, 1994 a fire claimed the "Grand Lady" after 94 years.

After much negotiating with State and local authorities, the Lake Club was rebuilt and on April 27, 1996 celebrated it's Grand Opening just nine months after ground was broken.

The Club emerged stronger, better and with a renewed spirit that will enable it to meet the needs of its members and the surrounding community for the next 100 years.