Indian Lake (Ohio) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Indian Lake
Bridge at Russells Point, last remaining part of the Sandy Beach Amusement Park
Indian Lake Location in Ohio Show map of Ohio Indian Lake Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Logan County, Ohio, United States
Coordinates	40°28′03″N 83°52′31″W / 40.46750°N 83.87528°W / 40.46750; -83.87528
Lake type	Reservoir
Primary inflows	North and south forks of the Upper Great Miami River, Cherokee Mans Run, Blackhawk Creek, Van Horn Creek
Primary outflows	Great Miami River
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	5,104 acres (2,066 ha)
Average depth	10 feet (3.0 m)
Max. depth	24.8 feet (7.6 m)
Surface elevation	995.8 feet (303.5 m)
Settlements	Russells Point, Lakeview

Indian Lake is a large lake in western Ohio, in the United States. It's about 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Lima. This lake was created by people, making it a "reservoir." It gets its water from several streams like the Great Miami River's forks. The water flows out into the Great Miami River.

Indian Lake is the second largest inland lake in Ohio, covering about 5,104 acres (2,066 ha). It was named by early European-American settlers because Native American tribes lived here. They found the area perfect for fishing and hunting. The lake was originally a group of smaller lakes and wet areas. In the 1850s, it was made much bigger to store water for the Miami and Erie Canal. This canal was a way to transport goods from Toledo to Cincinnati. However, trains soon became more popular than canals.

Even though the canal system became old-fashioned, Indian Lake remained. It became a popular spot for fun activities like fishing and boating. In the past, people caught lots of bass, bluegill, and crappies. Today, the lake is known for its saugeye fish. Many fishing tournaments are held here each year. Most of these follow "catch and return" rules. This means fish are caught and then put back into the lake.

Indian Lake has many islands and wildlife areas. You can explore these areas through a network of channels. The lake has about 30 miles (48 km) of shoreline. Places like Old Field Beach and various boat ramps are part of the Ohio state park system. There are also popular walking trails at Pew Island and Cherokee Campgrounds.

A song by The Cowsills from the 1960s is said to be about this lake. The band members themselves have said the song is about their "favorite place."

The lake has a busy calendar of events. It starts with a "Jimmy Buffett weekend" in February. There's an annual Boat Show in March. A big fireworks display happens for July 4. Many people watch from boats or along the shore. On Labor Day weekend, there's a "Ring of Fire" event. This is said to be an old Native American tradition to celebrate the harvest. Almost every summer weekend has an event, like boat shows or charity "poker runs."

In the past, Indian Lake was a popular vacation spot. Many small cottages were built for summer use. It was famous for its amusement park, which had roller coasters and a dancehall. Today, many of these cottages have been updated into permanent homes. The lake is still very busy in the summer.

Sandy Beach Amusement Park: A Look Back

Ohio historical marker about the amusement park's history

A big part of Indian Lake's history is the amusement park and dancehall that used to be in Russells Point. It was called the "Midwest's Million Dollar Playground." Pappy Wilgus opened Sandy Beach Amusement Park on May 29, 1924. It was promoted as the "Atlantic City of the West."

The park had a large wooden roller coaster that was 2,000-foot (610 m) long. It was known by names like "Thriller" or "Silver Streak." Visitors could also enjoy a penny arcade, a carousel, a millrace ride, a Ferris wheel, and a funhouse. There were also boat trips and a boardwalk for swimming at Sandy Beach Island.

A very popular spot was the Minnewawa Dance Hall. It had two stages and space for hundreds of dancers. The park claimed it was the biggest dance hall in Ohio. Famous bands played there, and it was always packed with people. The park did well even during the Great Depression. In 1935, a fire destroyed many wooden parts of the park. New owners rebuilt it, including a new dance hall called Moonlight Terrace Gardens. Crowds kept coming through the 1950s.

The park started to decline in the 1950s. More people had cars and could travel to other places. The park was renamed "San Juan Amusement Park." On July 4, 1961, there was a large fight involving many young people. For almost ten years, similar problems happened on Independence Day weekends. Families started to choose safer places to visit. The park tried to improve security and changed its name to "Indian Lake Playland" in 1967. A statue of the Virgin Mary was put up in 1964 to help bring families back. This statue is still there today.

New, bigger parks like Cedar Point and Kings Island opened nearby. These parks drew customers away from Indian Lake. The Indian Lake park tried to compete by adding another roller coaster, but it didn't help. The park closed in 1975. The old rides were left unused until the park was torn down in 1982. Today, much of the land where the park once stood has been developed with homes.

A footbridge used to connect two parts of the park. It was closed for many years because it needed repairs. Thanks to local efforts, the bridge was fixed and reopened to the public in 2014.

Around the Lake

Aerial view of the lake in summer

Two villages are located right on the lake: Russells Point on the south side and Lakeview to the northwest. Many other well-known areas are part of the lake community. These include Wolf and Orchard Islands, Artists' Isle, and Long Island.

A local radio station, WRPO in Russells Point, serves the lake area. It is run by a community member.

Islands of Indian Lake

Indian Lake is home to many islands. Here are some of them: