Clear Lake council approves memorandum of understanding with Lake Theatre to help with renovations
CLEAR LAKE — Clear Lake’s City Council last night approved a memorandum of understanding with the Lake Theatre as they look to do a complete renovation of the building.
The Lake Theatre has been an entertainment staple in downtown Clear Lake since it was built in 1892, being operated originally as an opera house until the 1930s when it was converted into a movie theater. In 2016, Aaron and Erin Donaldson purchased the theater with the intent of keeping it a staple within the community for years to come.
They recently created a non-profit to operate the theater so it can continue to remain a community asset for decades even after the Donalsons are no longer involved. As part of this vision, the Lake Theatre is launching a complete renovation project which will bring a completely refreshed theater while preserving the historical elements of the building.
As part of the memorandum of understanding, the city will provide a forgivable loan over a three-year period of up to $600,000.
Aaron Donaldson says having the theater be a non-profit will help ensure the building’s place in the community long-term. “Privately owned and operated is just not sustainable. My wife and I have privately funded the theater for the last eight-and-a-half years. We’re happy to do that. The problem is that the realization creeped into our heads that what happens if something happens to us? Then it’s probably not going to be sustainable. The next potential owners probably won’t have the same vision and passion and desire to do what we’re doing. By converting to a 501c3, we’re able to take advantage of private funding, public funding, grants, etc.”
Donaldson says there’s been decades of “deferred maintenance” to the interior and exterior of the building, meaning almost everything needs to be addressed. One of the goals is to also be able to have smaller stage-style events inside the theater. “One of the things we hear often is ‘can you host a concert?’ We have the Surf Ballroom that is great when you’re into the multiple hundreds and thousands of folks, and then we have places like Tap’d and Elly’s that are able to be smaller concert venues, but there’s not that medium venue. We hope to fill that role as that medium facility.”
Donaldson says the cost of the project is estimated to be between $2.2 and 2.4 million. He says many business owners in the community have already offered up their support for the project. The goal is to have the renovations done by the end of June 2027.
