Palo Alto Elks Lodge No 1471

Unbelievably racist facility and program. My friends and I were there a couple days ago. They harassed my friends who were not white and made us all uncomfortable. This place has horrible values and considering that we are in the twenty first century, these people need to rethink their racist values.

I know Fraternal organizations are considered old school but the PA Elks is a great facility with a very well equipped work out room, racquetball/​handball courts, locker rooms with steam/​sauna/​jacuzzi and a fantastic pool area. 2015 Annual membership+workout room access runs just over $ 1000 for a couple (with one of them being the member).
They also offer a restaurant (the Bistro) and members bar. Nice setup if you want a place to work out and socialize. Downside is that it seems the majority of members are families who use the pool in summer but off season, not much buzz. The Bistro does not have much ambiance, although the members bar is nice. The menu is quite limited but the food is OK and not expensive, and of course drinks are a deal and Eddie the bartender (who seems to be there all the time) is great.
They have occasional events like the New Years Eve Party, but committee. officers who run the place do not seem interested in reaching out to the new members to get them involved. They put out an elaborate newsletter each month, but typically the content is much the same month to month. I guess it is what you make of it, if you know what I mean. If interested visit

We held an event for 110 people in the Palo Alto Room at the Elks Club. Rosa Ruiz worked with me to plan the menu, and her recommendations were excellent. Our guests raved about the food. We needed audio-​video equipment, and everything we needed was provided. The room is spacious with uplifting natural light and a view overlooking the beautiful pool. It was a pleasure to work with Lisa Winnovich, who was efficient and friendly. I would highly recommend this venue for weddings or any sophisticated event. You do not need to be a member to use this facility.

GORGEOUS Facility. TERRIBLE Management.
The facility is beautifully constructed and the local staff (secretary, maintenance, janitor) are very nice. But the management is worse than any organization I have EVER worked with. They have terrible communication, don’t talk to each other, and all have different stories for what is going on. No one seems to be in charge or capable of making any decision. They are extremely disorganized and rude.
During my almost 2 years of teaching exercise classes at the lodge I’ve been locked out of the room, missing sound systems, told my class had to move the day of class, ignored, every couple weeks. Lost many students.
One person tells me they will send me a new contract soon and will get back to me, then never does. They tell me to keep classes going until they get back to me. A month later a new person tells me the day of class that we are banned from the room until I provide a contract. They are outraged that I have been using the facility «without permission». 2 weeks after providing a contract with their specific requirements they tell me they don’t have a contract. They ask for insurance, then say they are canceling classes because I don’t have insurance which I’ve been emailing them every two months and which I bought specifically for this facility only ($ 300 cost). They give me a new person to talk to whom I have never heard of every couple weeks. I’ve repeated a similar process with at least FIVE people.
After banning us from the room and emphasizing we can’t have class, when my students email, they tell them that class is not cancelled and they are just waiting on me for some paperwork. So we are temporarily banned randomly for indefinite periods of time, but somehow that doesn’t count as «canceling the class». The vast majority of the students are their own Lodge members which are paying many hundreds of dollars for membership. Other instructors and volunteers I know have had a similar experience and frustration, but they had the common sense to give up and leave before I did.
IF you can bypass the politics because you know someone, the facility is beautiful and the members and local staff are very helpful. DO IT. It is possible to have a beautiful event and community experience IF you know the right people and have some luck. IF you don’t have the magic connection to whatever mysterious powers run the lodge then forget it. Expect to be treated in a very inconsistent manner where you will be welcomed and appreciated one day, and treated with hostility the next day, and have to repeat the process indefinitely. The place is run by volunteers and maybe that’s why the staff changes all the time and no one has a clue what’s going on. It’s unprofessional to say the least.

Had an event here and liked the venue. Easy to find with lots of parking, and a clean, modern interior.
Had a slightly unusual odor though that I couldn’t quite place my finger on…

It was my first time here last night. Went to celebrate a friend’s last day of work.
Friendly staff and a great setting to chill and hang out with friends. It was interesting to see that half the layout is a regular restaurant and the other half was the lounge.
The restaurant had a band playing and it looked more like family setting.
Added bonus: It was the first time I tried Tequila; 2 shots too.
Plenty of parking too.

«The Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elk» had a big setup years ago right in between TraderVics/​Dinahs Poolside and to the North, Rickeys Hyatt… Now they have a brand new, much smaller building that is modern and great for families as a summer swim club, gym, and restaurant with full bar…
I have only had lunch here. I know they have a dinner too. And eventually, given a increase in membership I think they will feature a buffet like set up with a couple entrée options and the salad bar and so on… But to be frank, its been quite dead during the weekdays…
I think I have now had everything on the lunch menu… The steak sandwich is good… I like the bacon/​blue-​cheese burger as well… And if it weren’t for the rustic and hard ciabatta on the chicken breast sandwich, I would call that my favorite of the options, which, while sparse, are basic and handle pretty much anyone’s tastes… (Try subbing the hamburger bun for the roll, much nicer IMO)
They advertise a lunch entrée for $ 10 bucks, but I think they have not gotten into the full swing and def. are lacking for members bc they have only served it once, and I have been in nearly 3 times a week since they reopened… And the new digs are nice…
Service for members and their guests only…
The coca-​cola has been flat for three weeks, lol.
I don’t really dig their salad, its fresh enough, just something about the dressings maybe, idk… But they have some sweet potato fries, and they are delish!
«The Jolly Cork»? I think that is the name of the bar in between the kitchen and the pool. It is nice, the prices are more than reasonable, esp for the area, and most of these old boys know each other, and are friendly to the max, so if you join up, should be nothing but smiles, and well, eventually funerals one would think…
They also have a brand new gym and swimming pools and lockers rooms too… I feel like the dues are reasonable and certain to go up… Good for parties and receptions: I don’t know what it takes to rent it, but they have the large public ‘ballroom’ type space for parties and wedding receptions I imagine… Pretty sure they can cater the members wedding too…

Great group of people and a nice, new facility.