10 Gorgeous Hoosier lakes that sometimes get overlooked (Part 1)

Indiana is absolutely swimming in great lakes. But if you’ve spent enough weekends on Lake Michigan or Lake Monroe, the larger bodies of water may feel a little too familiar. For those who have Wawaseen it all, here are 10 gorgeous Hoosier lakes that sometimes get overlooked—and the best rental houses on their shores.

3. Lake Shafer

TO PARAPHRASE the crow in Indiana Beach’s commercials, there’s more than an amusement park at Lake Shafer. Sure, roller coasters dominate the western shore. But this body of water in Monticello, formed by a dam in the Tippecanoe River, also boasts nearby breweries, a charming drive-in theater, and a Pete Dye golf course.

Indiana Beach (5224 E. Indiana Beach Rd., 574-583-4141, indianabeach.com) is the main draw, of course. Founded in 1926, the park hosts several respectable coasters, including the wooden Cornball Express (save your Arrested Development jokes) and the Steel Hawg (with an 111-degree irst drop). Shafer’s only sandy swimming beach can be found here. Food Network featured the Taco Shoppe for its locally famous hard-shells. And 80 feet above, a slowmoving ski-lit called the Skyride ofers spectacular views not only of the park, but of the entire lake.

If you plan on boating, Lake Shafer Boat Rentals (2419 N.W. Shafer Dr., 574-583-5238, lakeshaferboatrentals .com) stocks the state’s largest leet of speedboats and pontoons. Throw your golf clubs on board and cruise over to the waterfront Tippecanoe Country Club (3267 N.W. Shafer Dr., 574-583- 9977, tippecanoecc.com), one of Dye’s irst projects. The 18-hole, par 72 course is open to the public. While on dry land, consider having a cold one at Kopacetic

Beer Factory (12195 U.S. 421, 574-808- 3378, kopaceticbeer.com). The microbrewery keeps an impressive selection of its own suds on tap, as well as crat beer from around Indiana. Lake Shore Drive-In (100 Rickey Rd., 574- 583-0311, lakeshoredrivein .com) is a quaint spot for ending the day with a ilm under the stars.

On the other side of the dam, at Shafer’s southern end, the Tippecanoe River meanders toward Lake Freeman and ofers a couple of fun places to eat at along the way. The Sportsman Inn (12340 N. Upper Lakeshore Dr., 574-583-5133, sportsmaninn.com) has been selling fried haddock and beer since 1928. The Oakdale Dam Inn (11899 W. Oakdale Dr., 574-965- 9104, facebook.com/oakdaledaminn) serves up similar fare downstream. If you’re interested in a tour of Freeman while you’re there, the doubledecker Madam Carroll (12244 N. Upper Lakeshore Dr., 574-583-3545, madamcarroll.com) puters around the lake every Saturday night with a band. Depending on the wind, it’s just enough to drown out the screams of joy coming from Indiana Beach.

4. Lake Lemon

IT MAY BE Indiana’s second-largest public reservoir, but there’s nothing second-rate about Lake Lemon. A nature-lover’s paradise, the body of water spans 1,650 acres and 24 miles of shoreline inhabited by bald eagles, great blue heron, egrets, muskrats, and more. One of the area’s bestkept secrets? The “Litle Africa” wetlands on the lake’s east end. Fed by Bean Blossom Creek, this spot is shaped like the continent that bears its name. Here you’ll ind catails and American lotus, the later blooming spectacularly in mid-to-late summer.

Established in 1953, Lake Lemon was Bloomington’s primary water source until the late ’60s, and conservation oicers still take its health very seriously, regularly checking for nuisance species and testing the water quality. The result? Anglers enjoy some of the best largemouth bass ishing around. (There are also crappie, catish, and bluegill.) Lake Lemon is strictly B.Y.O.B.—bring your own boat—as rentals aren’t available. There’s just one public ramp for large watercrat (7599 N. Tunnel Rd., Unionville), making Lemon generally less crowded and chaotic than its aquatic neighbor to the south, Monroe. (Pro tip: Kayakers may also launch via South Shore Drive, which goes from the mouth of Bean Blossom Creek right into Litle Africa.) Riddle Point Park (7599 N. Tunnel Rd., Unionville, 812-334- 0233, lakelemon.org/recreation) is home to the only public beach, and includes picnic areas, volleyball courts, and hiking trails. Leashed dogs are welcome everywhere. When hunger hits, you can head over to the nearby Port Hole Inn (8939 E. South Shore Dr., Unionville, 812-339-1856, portholeinn.com), accessible by land or boat. Although best known for its catish, the Port Hole ofers everything from pizza and calzones to tenderloins and deepfried pickle chips. The eatery also features live music on weekends. Rather DIY? Feel free to take your own grub and grill to Riddle Point Park. Because the beach at Lake Lemon is one of the few in the state to allow alcohol on its premises, you can bring your own beer, too. A toast to nature!

5. Lake Witmer

OF THE FIVE lakes that make up the Indian Chain in the northern part of the state, Witmer may be the most beautiful. Situated near the small town of Wolcotville, it’s also one of the cleanest in Indiana. As many ishermen know, cisco are a good sign of great water—and Witmer has its fair share of the species. Then there’s the interconnectedness of the lakes. You can explore more than 640 acres from this unspoiled litle hideaway (204 acres in its own right). There’s no boat rental place on Witmer, so you’ll want to bring your kayaks or ishing boat with you. At Coody Brown’s Lakeside Grill (1510 E 700 S, 260-854-2425), you can puter right up to the dock for pub grub. In town, Rieglings Coppertop (725 W. 700 S., 260-854-3000) has a roadhouse feel, with entrées more sophisticated than the exterior suggests—think blackened salmon drizzled with bleu cheese, then baked to a golden crisp. Perhaps the most unique experience near Witmer is Cook’s Bison Ranch (5645 E. 600 S., 866-382-2356, cooksbisonranch.com), where 500 bison roam and you can feed the animals. This third-generation ranch also ofers hunters the opportunity to harvest other large game on the property. A few miles south, Rome City features more reined atractions. The Limberlost Golf Club (3204 E 900 N, 260-854-4878, limberlostgc.com)—named ater the classic novel by Gene Straton-Porter, who lived in this area—is one of the oldest courses in the state. At The Lavender Lane (2258 E. Northport Rd., 260-854- 4494, thelavenderlane.com), you can buy soaps, oils, and potpourri from a farm that smells like heaven. Hiking trails wind through the uninhabited Big Island (sylvanlakeindiana.org/big-island.html) on adjacent Sylvan Lake. And the Sylvan Cellars tasting room (2725 E. Northport Rd., 260-760-1421, sylvancellars.com) pours both crat beer and cocktails in a renovated barn. Back on Witmer, you won’t ind much to distract you from the scenery. It’s probably the sleepiest lake on this list. But for those who prefer tranquility to tourist atractions, the water here is just fine.

sources:

Indianapolis Monthly, July 2018