Sailing at the Point

Pelican Point Yacht Club was one of the first businesses established on Smith Mountain Lake

By Kate Hofstetter

                Pelican Point Yacht Club was one of the first businesses established on Smith Mountain Lake.

                When current owners Ralph and Ginnie Zahn bought the 30 or so acres in 1974, it was a family campground already named for the awkward web-footed bird with the gigantic beak.

                “The name has to do with the shape of the land,” explained Ginnie. “From the air, it may look like a pelican to some; I think it looks more like a duck.”

                The name stuck even though pelicans prefer salt water and Florida. The campground was converted into a marina and a portion of the land was developed for single family homes.

                “We wanted to provide a special place for people to spend their leisure time,” Ginnie said of the marina. “We are well aware of how precious leisure time is to busy people.”

                A 3,000-square-foot club house was built, complete with kitchen and living room with a fireplace and sunset view over the Blackwater River. The pool is located at the water’s edge with a bathhouse adjacent. The marina also offers tennis, picnic areas, shuffle board, horseshoes, and a lake swimming area – all in a park-like setting.

                Pelican Point has 140 deep-water slips, most with dockside power and water. The average size boat occupying a slip at the yacht club is 27 feet. However, boats as large as 40 feet or more in length can be accommodated.

                Fuel isn’t sold at the marina and there is nothing visible from the lake to entice the boating public ashore. The facility is for the use of members only and their guests. The Zahns said their wish is to provide a “safe, clean and attractive getaway.”

                Slips are rented annually to boaters from Roanoke, Blacksburg, North Carolina, West Virginia and beyond. One family from New York City flew down to the Lake for several years, Ginnie said.

                Pelican Point is the only marina at SML that specializes in the maintenance, repair and storage of sail boats. Its service department operates the entire year and has a hoist that will lift 30,000 pounds and a boat up to 45 feet in length.

Pelican Point Yacht Club is located at 60 Marina Point Dr. in Union Hall. For more information, contact the Zahns at 540.576.2019