Bartlett Lake Has It All!

By Carol L. Allen

It’s a nearby getaway for couples or for a family. It’s literally a cabin on the water.

Thanks to Bryan Church of Bartlett Lake Marina, Jim and I had the pleasure of staying two nights on one of the Aqua Lodges at Bartlett. Only an hour from most Valley homes, the lake has one of the most beautiful settings of our home waters, and staying in the Aqua Lodge let us experience that beauty thoroughly.

(For a couple that had a houseboat for several years, this was a nostalgic experience; there’s nothing quite like living on the water – be it inland or coastal.)

There are two 40-foot Aqua Lodges at Bartlett Lake. Both have all the amenities of a home away from home.

For a couple, there is a very comfortable private bedroom with queen-sized bed. Or, if a family or group of friends shares the lodge, there are two sleeper sofas and a loft sleeping area — probably a total sleeping capacity for 10 people.

The bathroom is complete with shower, and the kitchen has all that is needed for indoor cooking and eating: an electric range, microwave, toaster, blender, coffee maker, a full-size refrigerator, kitchen utensils, and dinnerware. Or, if one prefers outdoor cooking, a large gas barbecue grill is available on the pier.

We were comfortable indoors — with a dinette table, bar and stools — and outside, relaxing on a nice set of patio furniture. Late in the evening — even though we said we wouldn’t — we did turn on the 20-inch TV and enjoyed not only the Direct TV but also played a couple of movies on both the DVD and VCR players.

(And, although they are not technically included in the Aqua Lodge features, a family of raccoons came on the back deck each night to entertain us with their antics.) We, of course, thank Bryan and also Eric Church, Lori Montoya, and Amy Workman for their hospitality. Included in our mini-vacation was the use of a pontoon boat, a very comfortable way to get around the lake, which was 100 percent filled after the season’s rains. 

When we were in the marina’s handy ship’s store, we picked up information on two innovative Bartlett features.

The first is the Bartlett Lake Boat Club, a new alternative to boat ownership. Monthly membership in the club costs less than buying or renting, and members can enjoy a variety of boats without the trouble or expense of owning any of them.

A membership gives one daily access to a fleet of well-maintained and fully outfitted boats, complete with accessories such as water skis, tubes, water boards, ski vests, and CD players. Club boats can be reserved the same day or up to 30 days in advance. More information is available at bartlettlake.com or by calling (480) 221-5737 The second great idea was explained to us by Bryan Church during our visit: It’s their link to the BoatingStore, an online catalog of “absolutely everything” a boater or watersport enthusiast could ever need. With just a quick click from the comfort of your home computer, you can view and/or purchase dozens of products for maintenance and repairs (including manuals), watersports, and safety.

Also online in Bartlett’s BoatingStore are electronics, some apparel, boating equipment, paints and coatings, lubricants and oils, navigation lights, trailer accessories, props, and more. Visit bartlettlake.com or call (602) 316-3378 for more information.

Besides the cozy lodges, reasonably priced boat storage facilities, the well-stocked ship’s store, the boat club, and the handy online store, Bartlett Lake Marina also offers concierge services, “customized services designed to maximize your boating experience,” (call Craig Lang at 602-206-7499) and Service at the Lake by Hales Marine Service, Inc. for simple annual maintenance to extensive boat and trailer repairs (call Ed Hale at 602-619-4819).

Yes, this marina seems to have everything the boater, angler, watersport enthusiast, or just plain visitors such as Jim and Carol Allen could ever need to enjoy this Arizona beauty: Bartlett Lake.