Retro Indy: Who was Clarence Geist and why is reservoir named for him?

Editor's note: This story originally appeared in 2019. Who is the “Geist” in Geist Reservoir?

The body of water was named for Clarence H. Geist, who purchased the Indianapolis Water Co. in 1913. Geist also operated gas, light and water utilities in northern Indiana and across the country. He made Philadelphia his home but held memberships in several Indianapolis clubs, building business relationships along the way.

Geist foresaw the potential population growth in Indianapolis and likely water shortage that would result. In the 1920s, he began purchasing land on the northeast side of Indianapolis and was bound and determined to build a reservoir, never mind that the hamlet of Germantown was smack dab where it was to be built.

Geist got his reservoir, albeit he never lived to see his dream come to fruition.

A LaPorte native, Clarence H. Geist was the son of a farmer and a cattle breeder himself. Geist became a brakeman for the Rock Island Railroad until he found his true calling was utilities — owning them, that is.

Geist tried hard to shake the Indiana farm boy image. He was a savvy businessman who thrived on status and social standing. Where else but Palm Beach could one attain both.

Geist built a mansion in Palm Beach and purchased the Cloister Inn in 1928 for $71,500 and turned it into one of the most luxurious private clubs in the world.

He spent $7 million on land and added 300 rooms, swimming pools, dining rooms and quarters for the employees. When the newly renovated facility reopened as the Boca Raton Club in 1930, only millionaires were allowed to enter.

Given that the stock market crashed just months before, it was a wonder there were any millionaires left. But there plenty of people ponied up the $5,000 membership fee, although prospective members had to be personally screened by Geist.

Geist was eccentric. He would occasionally stroll through the lobby in a bathrobe or long underwear. He refused to ride in the public elevator with the guests. He forbade any newspaper photographers inside of the club and tried to destroy all photographs of himself and his family for fear of being kidnapped.

In 1963, the Indianapolis News published a story by author Cleveland Amory, which told of his mortal fear of being kidnapped by strangers and even his friends. “Nobody who ever knew Clarence would ever have wanted to kidnap him,” Geist's bodyguard stated, “if they did, they would have bitterly regretted it.”

Geist died in 1938. Five years after his death, Geist Reservoir was constructed by damming Fall Creek. Nearly 1,800 acres of land were cleared for the reservoir, most of it farmland, according to the town of Fishers website. While a few picnic tables dotted the shore and fishing was allowed, even boating was banned until 1953 when the Indianapolis Water Company announced it would allow only rented boats on its water. At the time, private craft were still prohibited.Still, renegades would sneak in. The following year the Indianapolis Star reported that sheriff's deputies from Marion and Hamilton Counties, state police and game wardens would patrol the waters for "reckless boaters and lakebound booze hounds."Wind-powered boats hit the water sooner. In 1955, the reservoir allowed the Indianapolis Sailing Association to build docks and a clubhouse on the reservoir's shore and sail the lake, at the time the third largest body of water in the state. By 1970, high-powered speedboats were welcome on certain parts of the water along with water skiiers. And by the '80s, a developer received permission to start building 500 luxury waterfront homes around the reservoir.

Anyone who has boated on Geist Reservoir has probably swooned at these expensive waterfront mansions, the opulence of which the reservoir’s namesake would surely approve.

For the landlocked among us, last year the town of Fishers opened Geist Waterfront Park, which has a beach and boat rentals. The park is free for all during most of the week. During peak hours on weekends and holidays, non-Fishers residents must pay for parking.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Retro Indy: Who was Clarence Geist and why is reservoir named for him?