| Lake Tippecanoe | |
|---|---|
| Location | Kosciusko County, North Central Indiana, USA |
| Lake type | Glacial lake |
| Primary inflows | Spring fed |
| Primary outflows | Oswego Lake to Tippecanoe River, James Lake |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 880 acres (360 ha) |
| Average depth | 37 ft (11 m) |
| Max. depth | 123 ft (37 m) |
| Residence time | 4 years |
| Surface elevation | 837 ft (255 m) |
Tippecanoe Lake is a large, glacially-created lake in Kosciusko County in north-central Indiana and is the deepest natural lake in the state.
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Tippecanoe Lake is located approximately 2 miles west of the town of North Webster, Indiana, and Webster Lake with the small unincorporated area of Oswego located near its west-northwestern shore.
Tippecanoe Lake is used mostly for recreational purposes such as fishing, boating and skiing and is surrounded by mostly expensive residential housing. A prominent historical location is situated on the SW shore of the lake; Tippy Dance Hall. Once a traditional concert hall which hosted acts such as Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and the 60's act The Byrds, Tippy Dance Hall is now a teen dance club with Saturday night dances held from Memorial Day to just after Labor day.[1]
Tippecanoe Lake Country Club is a private club and the lake's largest attraction. It is located north of Kalorama Park at 7245 N Kalorama Road and accessed from Indiana State Road 13 via Kosciusko County Roads E650N and E800N. TLCC, a private club, was opened on April 15, 1926, with the clubhouse opening on June 11 of that year. The club joined the Chicago District Golf Association in the 1950s. From 1959 through the early 1960s, the club also hosted LPGA tournaments. Professionals such as Kathy Cornelius of Phoenix, Arizona, and Mickey Wright of Port St. Lucie, Florida, played Tippecanoe.[2] Aside from golf, T.L.C.C. also provides tennis, swimming, and boating and holds a fireworks display for the 4 July.
'Patona Bay Marina and Resort
Patona Bay Marina consists of a full service marina, defined as a new and used boat/PWC dealership as well as a full service parts and service department. The marina also offers repairs, seasonal services (installing/removing boat lifts), and other services.
Patona Bay Resort has existed since the 1920s, and has grown into several-hundred unit seasonal resort, which allows patrons to pay a seasonal rent to reside at the Resort during the summer months (April-October). Pier spaces do cost an additional fee, but if one has a boat/PWC the price is relatively affordable. As the real estate prices for individual homes on Lake Tippecanoe have reached nearly $450,000 for a small cottage (roughly 1,200 sq. ft.), Patona Bay Resort is a relatively affordable way for families to enjoy the lake in the summer months without the hassle of a year-round mortgage. The resort also includes a gift shop/arcade/snack bar during the summer, a separate swimming beach with several areas for kids to play, other amenities such as a pet walk for dogs, family events during the summer holiday weekends, etc.
Pied-Eyed Petey's Restaurant and Bar
Pie-Eyed Petey's Restaurant and Bar, occupying the former site of Plaza Marina, is a full service restaurant/bar, with a limited marina services and more importantly fueling services. The marina offers a limited selection of boating accessories, as well as a store with T-shirts, hand painted signs, and other lake-oriented accessories.
Pie-Eyed Petey's is the only full service restaurant and bar on the lake. The menu consists of pizzas, subs, tenderloins, chicken fingers, hamburgers, etc. The bar is full service. The decor in the bar reflects Lake Tippecanoe's heritage; from the early days of pull-start outboard motors hanging on the wall, to water skis dating from the 1960s, to the teak MasterCraft Decks from the 1990s, this eatery has a strong flair for Lake Tippecanoe nostalgia. A newly completed "Tiki" Bar is located outdoors, with flat screen TVs and a full service bar to serve outdoor patrons. The outdoor dining area has grown in recent years, and much of it is covered by canopies, with large outdoor heaters if the temperatures require them. Most recently, a red lighthouse has been constructed and is nearing completion as of the end of June, 2011.
Tippecanoe Boat Co, Inc. is a marina located on the NE side of Lake Tippecanoe. The access point is through a long channel which is clearly marked by a large sign, underneath a footbridge, and into a lagoon. Gas is available at TBC, and there is a full boat dealership as well.
Public access to Tippecanoe Lake is available via:
Tippecanoe is drained by the Tippecanoe River which flows generally south to the Wabash River. The river ends near Battle Ground, Indiana, in Tippecanoe county.
Two reservoirs (man-made lakes), Lake Shafer and Lake Freeman are fed by the Tippecanoe River. The reservoirs both have Dams controlling flow of the Tippecanoe River into them.
A notable resident was Chris Schenkel who had a lake side home. Schenkel announced the Triple Crown horse races and the Masters Tournament on CBS. With ABC Sports he was Olympic anchorman, college football, NBA, and PBA bowling announcer. There are also reports that actress Hayden Panatierre's grandparents have a house on Lake Tippecanoe, though this cannot positively be confirmed.
Some interesting myths surround Tippecanoe Lake. The most famous include: The "bottom" of the lake is a false bottom made up of silt, under which lies a spring that extends 200 feet (61 m)-300 feet (91 m) feet below the surface of the lake, somewhere in the lake lies a crashed airplane, and that SCUBA divers reportedly dove the deepest depths of the lake only to surface when the fish became larger than the divers. Rumors and legends maintain that the plane that crashed into the lake was a B-17 Flying Fortress that ran out of fuel, or a smaller private airplane. This rumor cannot be positively confirmed.