The Boathouse on the Lullwater was built in 1905 to 1907 by Helmle, Hudswell and Huberty. These three architects were protégés of McKim, Mead and White, the same firm that designed Pennsylvania Station.

When it opened, the public enjoyed boat rides on the nearby Lullwater and a restaurant on the second floor. There was a boat-renting office at ground level, between the staircases.

However, by the 1960s, the structure was underutilized. People rarely visited it and the dock was only accessible on the weekend.

In September 1964, the Parks Department was within forty-eight hours of demolishing the Boathouse. However, the public pressured the department to save it. As a result, it was declared a historical Landmark in 1972.

In 2000, it became home to the first urban Audubon Center in the nation as a result of a partnership between Prospect Park Alliance and Audubon New York. It’s the only urban center for the society in the US.

The boathouse is available to the public year-round, with the exception of private events.

This Beaux Arts building’s floor-to-ceiling windows allows it to be an indoor-outdoor venue. Its dock sits on the Lullwater with views of the nearby bridge.

If you walk into the venue from the dock, you’ll enter a hallway between the windows and series of Tuscan columns. The ceiling is created with a type of vaulting system that utilizes glazed green Guastavino tiles to support the upper interior’s infrastructure.

The dance floor meets a double staircase, which leads to the second floor. The second floor is a private space for the wedding party.

The building’s ground floor is made of brick arranged in a herringbone pattern, so you may want to wear more supportive footwear for dancing and socializing.

The Prospect Park Boathouse is wheelchair accessible. Learn more

Welcome party

Dressy casual attire. Sundresses, lightweight separates, and khakis or slacks. Jackets and ties are optional.

Wedding

Formal or black-tie optional. This includes a formal dark suit, button down, and tie. For women, wear a floor-length dress, fancy cocktail dress, or dressy pantsuit. 

While we love your little ones, we kindly ask that you join us for an adults-only reception. We don’t consider the venue to be a child-friendly environment because it sits on the water.

If you’d like to arrange child care services and kids’ meals, we can work with our wedding coordinator to set this up for you.

Please don’t bring a plus one with you, unless specifically mentioned on your invitation.

We appreciate your understanding.

In the spirit of sharing meals as a way to bring people together, we’re serving a family-style dinner. We’ll provide a menu at your table.

Add this to your RSVP form. Our caterer will accommodate your request. 

Yes. We created a private registry on Zola that you can only access through the link we added. But please know that we consider your presence the greatest gift.

Go to our registry