Spring Ridge Club Nearly Concludes Explorer Membership Offer

By: Destination Club News
Date: December 3, 2007

The Spring Ridge Club, a Pennyslvania based fishing club, currently is offering multiple membership benefits to the last two Explorer Memberships the club will sell. For those who join before the end of the year, the club will offer multiple membership benefits, including:

  • Waived dues for the first year
  • Early out clauses that allow members to:
    • Resign at the end of 2008 and retain fishing rights through April of 2009
    • Receive a full membership refund less an $8,000 fee

"There are other benefits to membership," the club writes. "If you've been on the fence about membership, or if you know of someone you'd like to gift a membership to, this is your last chance to do so this year. Membership deposits will go up in January, so don't miss this opportunity to get in now."

Spring Ridge Club resembles the model used by most destination clubs. As the club acquires new members, more streams and lakes are made available to the total membership base.

Earlier this year, the Spring Ridge Club ran into some legal issues when a judge ruled that the club was illegally blocking public access to a stretch of the Little Juniata River. Founder Donny Beaver commented on the case, stating "For those of you who don’t already know, the judge has handed down a decision in the case concerning “ownership” of the river-bottom on the stretch of the Little Juniata that runs in front of the Stone House. The State has ruled that the section of the Little J in question will remain “public” water. As it has stood for the last five years, anyone can walk down the Little J from the bridge and fish the waters on the Espy estate. We will still post the river banks as private property, however. None of our beats of “legacy” waters will be directly affected by the ruling."

"At this point, I’m weighing my options as to whether or not we’ll appeal the decision, but for now, it’s business as usual."

Spring Ridge Club's companion club, the Alpine River Club is also concluding a membership drive. Alpine River Club's Founding Membership offer will conclude after the acquisition of two more members, each receiving a list of attractive membership benefits.

While the destination club industry remains new, the fishing themed subset of the industry remains even younger. Over the next several years, it will be intriguing to learn how the public views the club structure and what, if any, regulations these clubs will have to adhere to.

If you are currently evaluating a destination club, a good place to begin is to request a free copy of our Destination Club Guide.