Loeb Boathouse

In addition to the rowboat and gondola rental, the Boathouse includes a restaurant, cafe, and event space.

Boating on the Lake is one of Central Park’s most enduring traditions. Looking to offer urban dwellers quintessentially rural experiences, Park designers promoted boating as an ideal way to explore the Lake’s scenic beauty. Beginning in the 1860s, Park visitors could take a “passage boat” that completed a circuit of the Lake, stopping at various boat landings. Visitors could also hire a gondola for a more intimate guided tour.

As boating grew in popularity, Park administrators realized they need a building to house rentals. In the 1870s, the first boathouse was constructed on the eastern shore of the Lake, an ornate wooden structure designed by Park co-designer Calvert Vaux. By the 1950s, this structure had fallen into disrepair and the current boathouse was designed as a more modern facility with restaurants and restrooms.

In addition to boat rentals, the restaurant is a popular Park destination for lakeside dining. The more casual cafe is a popular resting and gathering spot for birdwatchers, who document recent observations from the nearby Ramble in the “Bird Register” located in the lobby.