Bartlett Lake Marina offers boating fun close to home

Water Works

Bartlett Lake Marina offers boating fun close to home.

By Michelle Talsma Everson

Located less than 50 miles from downtown Phoenix and 17 miles northeast of Carefree, Bartlett Lake offers a boating surface area of 2,815 acres—more than Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake combined, according to the staff at Bartlett Lake Marina.

The popular marina is home to the only boat club in the Southwest and several other must-try amenities for local water enthusiasts.

“One of the main draws of Bartlett Lake Marina is our boat club; we’re the only marina in Arizona that has that,” says Bryan Church, marina owner. “It works very similar to a gym membership—for a regular fee, members can reserve a quality boat rental when they come out to the lake.”

Church says there are usually three types of people who are into boating: boat owners, boat renters, and those who are members of a boating club.

“It’s a diverse group of people, but renting a boat takes the responsibility [that comes with boat ownership] and you get full rental opportunities,” he adds.

The Bartlett Lake Marina has about 200 slips (places to dock a boat) and boats that call the marina home can range from 18 to 75 feet. The marina has an entire fleet of boats available to rent, including pontoons, ski boats, aqua lodges, party boats, and more. They also rent other equipment like jet skis and paddle boards.

In addition to the rental opportunities, Church says that Bartlett Lake is the second largest lake in the Valley and offers a lot of recreational opportunities. Added to boating, popular activities include hiking (the lake is located in the Tonto National Forest), water skiing and fishing.

“Come to Bartlett Lake for a great vacation or weekend full of fun and relaxation! Boating, water skiing and jet skiing are popular at Bartlett Lake. It offers the best of both worlds: gently sloping beaches on the west side and mountains that break the wind on the east,” according to the marina’s official website, www.bartlettlake.com.

When it comes to grub, Church says that the marina is in the process of putting the final touches on their on-site restaurant that will feature fast-casual fare.

He adds that another popular attraction at the marina is their party boat available for rent.

“It’s the only one like it in Arizona,” he says. “It [the party boat] can fit up to 25 passengers and is a 45-foot boat. There’s a top deck, room for a daytime barbecue, the works.”

With warmer weather just around the corner, many might think that boating season is at its end—but it’s actually the opposite.

“Now through October is actually our busiest season; boating is popular even in the summer,” Church says.

When asked what makes Bartlett Lake Marina stand out from other marinas in the Valley, Church explains with a smile: “Some people joke that we’re the ‘Mayberry of Marinas,’ and that’s fine with me. We’re a quiet marina—a great place for families but also, like I mentioned, we have a fun side too with our party boats, skiing, and more.”

To learn more about Bartlett Lake Marina, visit bartlettlake.com.