Stonecrest Swim Club recently celebrated a half-century of keeping members cool.

"Stonecrest is a private swim and tennis club," Stonecrest Board President Rob Khanuja said. "Members buy a bond and that is their share of ownership. Every member is an owner and has a vested interest in the up-keep of the club.'

Stonecrest began when a group of residents from the West End of Allentown got together and purchased four parcels of land.

"They incorporated Stonecrest Swim Club, a non-profit corporation, then built the pool and pool house," Khanuja said. "It was about 15 years later when the tennis and basketball courts were built."

Stonecrest, 1300 N. Main St., South Whitehall Township, opened Memorial Day 1964.

The club offers swimming, tennis, basketball, swimming lessons for children, a swim and diving team and arts and crafts for kids 8 years old and younger every week day from 1-4 p.m. in the children's play center.

"We are open from noon to 8 p.m. Memorial Day to Labor Day," Khanuja said. "When September is nice and hot, we stay open for two more weeks."

Khanuja said members want to introduce more area residents to Stonecrest and have great events planned for this summer.

"On many Friday's throughout the summer, we will have food trucks visiting," he said. "We are going to be opening our snack bar and having caterers coming to sell food."

There also will be a family day including a disc jockey, children's games and a contest, such as belly flop and an adult night for members to come without children to eat, drink, dance and have adult fun.

"At the end of the summer, we have our camp out, where many members and their children come out, pitch a tent and spend the night here," Khanuja said. "We keep the pool open until midnight."

The next morning, there is a big breakfast for everyone before they leave.

"Stonecrest is just a great family gathering place where families can come and make new friends and kids can make new friends," Khanuja said. "We have many members who were members when they were kids and now they are bringing their families."

Stonecrest Managers Jim Kucharczuk and Jon Schultz are at the club full time during the summer.

"They manage everything from our staff to the snack bar to keeping the grounds clean and the water spotless," Khanujaevery said.

For more information about the club, call 610-493-9424 or visit stonecrestswimclub.com.