Goguac Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goguac Lake |
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 Goguac Lake
Location in Michigan
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| Location | Calhoun County, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 42°17′30″N 85°12′30″W / 42.29167°N 85.20833°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 352 acres (1 km2) |
| Max. depth | 66 ft (20 m) |
| Surface elevation | 912 ft (278 m) |
| Islands | 3 |
| Settlements | Battle Creek |
Goguac Lake is a beautiful lake in Battle Creek, a city in Calhoun County, Michigan. It covers about 352 acres (1.4 km²) and is quite deep, reaching 66 feet (20 m) at its deepest point.
This lake is home to many different kinds of fish. You can find Crappie, Bluegill, Pike, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass, and Walleye here. Most of the land around the lake has private homes and large properties. However, you can also find the Battle Creek Country Club and Willard Beach, which is a public park for everyone to enjoy.
A made-up version of Goguac Lake was even shown in the TV show called Battle Creek.
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Discover Goguac Lake!
Islands of Goguac Lake
Goguac Lake has three interesting islands. The one furthest south was first called Picnic Island. Over time, its name changed several times, finally becoming Vince's Island. Dr. Vince, a dentist from England, built a special path from the shore so he could drive to his large house on the island.
Another island was named Peach Island because someone planted a peach orchard there. People sometimes used this island for secret, forbidden activities, as it was a good place to hide from the sheriff. This island also changed hands and names, later being known as Hulbert's, Clark's, and Gould's Island.
Ward's Island is the smallest of the three. It used to be bigger when the lake's water level was lower. A cottage stood on Ward's Island for many years. The first Goguac Boat Club was also located there for about three years. Today, people sometimes visit for picnics, but they need to watch out for poison ivy! This island was once a safe place for birds, with hummingbirds nesting there.
A Look Back: Goguac Lake's History
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The lake's original name was Coguagiack. This was a Native American word that described the "wavy" or "undulating" prairie lands around the lake. The Potawatomi tribe lived in this area, and Goguac Lake was sometimes a meeting place for them.
When English settlers arrived in the early 1800s, Goguac Lake became very important. It provided water for farming and was a central spot for community fun and activities.
Fun Times at Liberty Amusement Park
Like many lakes in the early 1900s, Goguac Lake once had its own small amusement park! It was called Liberty Amusement Park. This park featured a wooden roller coaster that thrilled visitors. It also had a big dance hall where people could gather and have fun.
Construction on the park began in the late 1890s. It continued to operate at least until the 1912 summer season. If you want to see old pictures and learn more about Liberty Amusement Park, you can find information at the Willard Library.
Amazing Goguac Lake Stories
Goguac Lake is part of many interesting stories. Some are pure fiction, while others are legends based on a tiny bit of truth.
One story suggests that the explorer La Salle camped by Goguac Lake. Some even claimed he said how beautiful the lake was. However, it's unlikely he paid much attention to it while quickly traveling through Michigan's swamps.
Another tale explains why some parts of the lake are cold and others are warm, even just a few feet apart. In the 1890s, some people living by the lake added different fish to it. One year, they brought in some special eels. This started stories similar to those about the Loch Ness Monster! But just like the eels, the stories eventually disappeared. Only one harmless eel has been seen in recent times.
Goguac Lake doesn't have any natural rivers flowing out of it. Its water level changes with the seasons. It goes down when it's dry and rises when there's a lot of rain. A man-made channel from Minges Brook helps control the water level a bit.
There was a rumor that the lake had a secret outlet at the bottom, leading all the way to the Kalamazoo River. A funny story was written for a local newspaper about this. The story claimed the writer was swimming in Goguac Lake when he was sucked into this hidden outlet! He was supposedly swept all the way to the Kalamazoo River. The story said he was bruised but not badly hurt. He was even able to run back to his hotel without anyone seeing him. The story didn't explain how he breathed underwater for so long!
