The Tune-o-matics will be playing 50s, 60s, & 70s music including the music of the Beach Boys.
Westlake beach Club Reunion
Westlake Beach Club was a popular recreation area along High School Road between West 10th Street and Rockville Road. For the past eleven years a Westlake Beach Club Reunion was held on the west side of Indianapolis bringing together high school class reunions. It is a great time to see old friend and reminisce of old times.
Westlake's History
Westlake Beach Club opened in 1931. The original attraction was a man-made lake on land owned by the Voight family. Their acreage extended both to the west and to the east of High School Road and at that time, the interstate system did not yet exist.
In 1931, a lake was created on the Voights’ property after fill dirt was excavated from a field for use on a nearby railroad project. Ernest, the youngest of Richard and Hattie Voight’s sons, conceived of an opportunity for the hole in their field and created a swimming club — then fishing — on a man-made lake
A dance terrace with a retractable roof opened in 1935. Local bands and national acts played at Westlake Terrace. Because of its location, students from Ben Davis, Speedway, George Washington, Decatur Central, and Pike High Schools frequented it in the greatest numbers, but teenagers from all over the Indianapolis area and beyond enjoyed dancing under the stars there. Also to the ongoing dances put on by the management, Westlake Terrace also became the venue for many high school proms and social club dances.
In 1931, a lake was created on the Voights’ property after fill dirt was excavated from a field for use on a nearby railroad project. Ernest, the youngest of Richard and Hattie Voight’s sons, conceived of an opportunity for the hole in their field and created a swimming club — then fishing — on a man-made lake
A dance terrace with a retractable roof opened in 1935. Local bands and national acts played at Westlake Terrace. Because of its location, students from Ben Davis, Speedway, George Washington, Decatur Central, and Pike High Schools frequented it in the greatest numbers, but teenagers from all over the Indianapolis area and beyond enjoyed dancing under the stars there. Also to the ongoing dances put on by the management, Westlake Terrace also became the venue for many high school proms and social club dances.
The Euvola Club, a high school social club of girls from Shortridge, North Central, and Tudor Hall, often held several of its dances at Westlake in the 1960s.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Euvola Club, an organization of high school girls from Shortridge and North Central High Schools (and later, Tudor Hall School) held its dances at Westlake.
A drive-in theatre was erected at the far north end of the Westlake compound in 1950. Soon after that, the Voight brothers made the decision to split the business into two entities. Older brother Paul took ownership of the beach club and dance pavilion. Younger brother Ernest became the owner of the drive-in theatre. Although Westlake may have appeared to the public as a single operation, from that point forward there were two distinct businesses.
Additional features were added to the beach club in the Fifties and Sixties. A miniature golf course was installed in 1956, with a variety of obstacles on each hole. A concrete swimming pool was built in 1960, attracting more serious swimmers to Westlake. A model train provided rides around the property for Westlake patrons. A Go-Kart track was also added at some point.
Westlake thrived until the arrival of the interstate system. In 1962, the western leg of the I-465 belt around Indianapolis was completed. High School Road was truncated and rerouted when the multi-lane, fast-moving highway was built. The Westlake attractions had originally fronted on High School Road, a well-traveled but nevertheless local street. After the interstate had gone in, access to Westlake was instead on a frontage road alongside the highway, called Beachway Drive. Westlake was not as visible as it was originally. The interstate system also led to new housing subdivisions and commercial nodes that became competition for already-existing businesses. Westlake’s attendance began to decline in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Westlake Beach Club – which included the lake, beach, swimming pool, dance terrace, miniature golf course, Go-Kart track, and model train – closed about 1971. That was the area that became the Westlake Arms in 1973. Westlake Beach Club owner Paul Voight passed away in 1975.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Euvola Club, an organization of high school girls from Shortridge and North Central High Schools (and later, Tudor Hall School) held its dances at Westlake.
A drive-in theatre was erected at the far north end of the Westlake compound in 1950. Soon after that, the Voight brothers made the decision to split the business into two entities. Older brother Paul took ownership of the beach club and dance pavilion. Younger brother Ernest became the owner of the drive-in theatre. Although Westlake may have appeared to the public as a single operation, from that point forward there were two distinct businesses.
Additional features were added to the beach club in the Fifties and Sixties. A miniature golf course was installed in 1956, with a variety of obstacles on each hole. A concrete swimming pool was built in 1960, attracting more serious swimmers to Westlake. A model train provided rides around the property for Westlake patrons. A Go-Kart track was also added at some point.
Westlake thrived until the arrival of the interstate system. In 1962, the western leg of the I-465 belt around Indianapolis was completed. High School Road was truncated and rerouted when the multi-lane, fast-moving highway was built. The Westlake attractions had originally fronted on High School Road, a well-traveled but nevertheless local street. After the interstate had gone in, access to Westlake was instead on a frontage road alongside the highway, called Beachway Drive. Westlake was not as visible as it was originally. The interstate system also led to new housing subdivisions and commercial nodes that became competition for already-existing businesses. Westlake’s attendance began to decline in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Westlake Beach Club – which included the lake, beach, swimming pool, dance terrace, miniature golf course, Go-Kart track, and model train – closed about 1971. That was the area that became the Westlake Arms in 1973. Westlake Beach Club owner Paul Voight passed away in 1975.
Although Westlake has been gone for many years, it has not been forgotten. An event to celebrate the memories made at Westlake was organized by devotees in 2006. It was such a success, it has become an annual gathering. The event even has a Facebook page.
Westlake Drive-In Theatre owner Ernest Voight passed away in 1971. The theatre, which was located on a separate parcel of land from the property that became the apartments, continued to operate under Ernest’s widow and children until 1981.ere to edit.
Westlake Drive-In Theatre owner Ernest Voight passed away in 1971. The theatre, which was located on a separate parcel of land from the property that became the apartments, continued to operate under Ernest’s widow and children until 1981.ere to edit.