The American Club in Bonn – Farewell to a Vision with a Future

A Place of History – and an Uncertain Tomorrow

Many alumni of the Bonn American High School (BAHS) remember the American Embassy Club in Bonn well – a vibrant meeting place for members of the American community and international guests for decades. After the departure of the Allied forces, the site remained unused for a long time, until a few years ago when hope was rekindled to bring it back to life – as a place for education, participation, democracy, and cultural exchange.

That hope has now suffered a major setback.

Project Cancelled – Media Report on the Withdrawal of the Montag Foundations

As several news outlets report, the Montag Foundations have surprisingly withdrawn from purchase negotiations with the Vebowag (the current property owner). The plan was to renovate the building complex at Martin-Luther-King-Straße and develop it into an accessible, public space promoting open civic life.

Media reactions have been clear:

🗞️ General-Anzeiger Bonn
“Renovation has failed: The former American Club was supposed to become a place for participation, education, and community. The project is now likely to collapse.”
➡️ To the GA Bonn article (external link)

📢 Montag Foundations – Official Statement
In a press release titled “Former American Club – Montag Foundations Withdraw”, the organization not only confirms their withdrawal but also announces the cancellation of their planned summer program on democracy. The Bonn International School expressed concern about the consequences this could have for Bonn as an international educational hub.
➡️ To the Montag Foundations statement (external link)

📺 WDR Lokalzeit Bonn
In a television report aired on July 8, 2025, WDR asks: “What’s next for the American Club?” and shows current footage of the site, which is visibly deteriorating.
➡️ To the WDR report (external link)

One Final Event: “amiclub revisited – Skateboarding & Community” (July 9–19, 2025)

Despite the disappointing news, a long-planned farewell event will still take place. Under the title “amiclub revisited – Skateboarding & Community”, the Open Embassy initiative, together with Bonn’s skateboarding community, invites the public from July 9 to 19, 2025 to a two-week open and participatory use of the outdoor area.

🛹 For two weeks, the space will be transformed into a lively skatepark with workshops, contests, community-building sessions, and a special family event on Sunday, July 13 (12–7 PM).
This also revisits the history of the early 2000s, when skaters used the former club grounds between 2000 and 2009 in a self-organized, creative way – an early example of temporary urban use and grassroots participation.

📍 Location:
Open Embassy | Martin-Luther-King-Straße 12, 53175 Bonn
Access only via the Rhine bike path, approx. 60 meters northwest of the Von-Sandt-Ufer.

Admission is free – everyone is welcome: experienced skaters, curious spectators, families, and visitors of all ages.

➡️ More information on the event (external link)

A Note from the BAHS Perspective

For many of us in the BAHS alumni community, the American Club holds special memories. It was a hub for social life, sports, culture, and connection – a symbol of transatlantic friendship, lived on a daily basis.

The failure to preserve and transform this site into a meaningful, public-oriented space is deeply disappointing. That’s why it’s all the more important that “amiclub revisited” becomes a creative and heartfelt farewell, reflecting the values of openness and community that once defined this place.

Let us take this moment to keep the story alive – by sharing memories, engaging in dialogue, and imagining new ways forward.

If you have photos, stories, or memories of the American Club – whether from school days, club events, or later visits – please send them to us at bahsalumni@t-online.de. We would love to feature them as part of a retrospective.

Your BAHS Alumni & Friends Team