St. Pete Shuffleboard keeps Mirror Lake playful

The St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club makes Mirror Lake feel playful in a very old Florida way.

Shuffleboard came to St. Petersburg in 1923, when Phineas T. Ives urged the city to build courts in Mirror Lake Park. Two courts were built that fall. In 1924, six players formed the Mirror Lake Park Shuffleboard Club, which later became the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club.

The club’s story grew fast. Early members helped set rules and court standards in 1928, when different clubs still played in different ways. The place expanded with more courts, a clubhouse, tournaments, and a huge social life. In 1994, the city designated the club, buildings, and courts as a historic landmark.

The fun part is that it did not stay locked in the past. Later Friday night games helped bring new attention to the club. Check current open play hours, member rules, event nights, and weather before going. It is a small game, but it explains a big piece of St. Pete’s public life.