13 Top Things To Do At Indian Lake, Ohio

When searching for a unique lakeside getaway in Ohio, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the beauty of Indian Lake in west-central Ohio.

My Dad would often tell the tales of his visit to Indian Lake as a little boy. Year after year, his relatives would make their yearly pilgrimage to its beachy shores. Until one year, he could join in on their lakeside holiday, which he remembers fondly.

Decades later, we piled three generations in the car to revisit this delightful Ohio getaway. Get ready to go off the beaten path as we dive into what makes Indian Lake an excellent family vacation in Ohio.

History of Indian Lake

Originally known as Old Indian Lake, Indian Lake was formed by a glacier. At only 640 acres, the lake was expanded in 1851 to a 1,000-acre lake and renamed Lewistown Reservoir. After another expansion in 1856, it wasn’t until 1898 that the State of Ohio made the Lewistown Reservoir into a state park and renamed it Indian Lake. Today, the lake is 5,100-acres.

With an abundance of beaches and islands, Indian Lake quickly rose as a popular tourist destination. Capitalizing on the surge in tourism, Sandy Beach Amusement Park was opened in 1924 at Russells Point, featuring the Minnewawa Dance Hall and popular rides such as a Ferris wheel and a roller coaster.

The glory days of Indian Lake lasted until the 60s, when the July 4th riots began, causing destruction and mayhem throughout the town. Sadly, the yearly riots took a toll on the businesses, and with the competition from Cedar Point, Sandy Beach (later renamed Indian Lake Playground) closed its doors forever in 1976.

The Indian Lake State Park’s family campground is still a popular camping destination with boating facilities, a swimming beach, and a well-maintained campground.

How To Get To Indian Lake

Indian Lake sits in the west-central portion of Ohio. Indian Lake is in Logan County, about 10 miles northwest of Bellefontaine. It is a short distance from I-75.

Distance From:

Cincinnati: 2 Hours 10 minutes ~ 123 miles

Columbus: 1 Hour 15 minutes ~83 miles

Toledo: 1 Hour 30 minutes ~ 90 miles

Address: 13156 State Route 235 N Lakeview, OH 43331

Top Things To Do At Indian Lake

Life seems to move a little slower at Indian Lake. Sleepy lakeside communities are dotted with local eateries, scenic parks, and the neighborhood watering hole. Spend a leisurely day on the lake or stroll along one of the many lakeside walking trails.

Don’t miss out on these top activities while visiting Indian Lake Ohio.

Indian Lake State Park

Indian Lake is a beautiful Ohio State Park. Visitors flock to Indian State Park for tons of great outdoor activities. Take the boat out, go fishing, jet skiing, and swimming. Off the lake, visitors can enjoy camping, picnicking, hiking the Cherokee trail, and winter activities such as ice fishing and snowmobiling.

Fishing is popular as the lake is stocked with yellow perch, largemouth bass, and white bass. Boat ramps make it easy for guests to bring their fishing boats for their adventure.

Camping at Indian Lake State Park

With exclusive boating access facilities, the large campground at Indian Lake State Park offers Premium (waterfront), Full Hook-up, and Electric sites for all types of camping. Pets are permitted at all sites.

Boat Camp sites are located near the boat ramp in the campground and consist of a paved space with an electric pedestal and reserved boat dock. They do not accommodate tents, and these campsites have no grass or fire ring.  

Boating Advisory For Indian Lake

Is that seaweed in a lake?! One noticeable feature of Indian Lake at the moment is the unprecedented aquatic vegetation that the park has been actively battling. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ efforts to remove and harvest the aquatic vegetation have been paying off, as boaters have reported excellent conditions for on-lake activities.

Previously, the aquatic vegetation would jam boat motors and require constant removal from propellers. Through the hard work of various public and private partners, the lake management plan has improved lake conditions and set a standard for future success at Indian Lake. 

Old Field Beach

Old Field Beach is a wonderful spot with a swimming beach, playground, paved walking trail, and disc golf. The beach is pet-friendly, and there is a dog park where dogs can go unleashed.

Guests swimming at the beach can access changing facilities, restrooms, and showers. These were not in the best shape during our recent visit and were quite frankly gross. There is an outdoor rinsing area with a foot wash and showerhead.

With beautiful lakeside views, we recommend taking advantage of the picnic shelters and picnic tables throughout the park.

Safety Tip: Ohio lakes are notorious for harmful algae blooms, so check that current lake conditions are safe before swimming.

Address: 11252 OH-235, Lakeview, OH 43331

Pew Island Trail

Explore one of Ohio’s prettiest lakeside trails by venturing on the Pew Island Trail. The island is a birding hot spot, with some portions of the trail closed off during hunting and nesting season. Varying ecosystems make this trail one you want to take advantage of.

The .07 loop trail will take visitors along the scenic lake shore, then on a boardwalk above marshy areas. In these marshy areas, you can see a wide variety of wildlife, especially birds.

A small parking area near the trail’s entrance has picnic areas and benches along the shoreline. Many great fishing spots are along the route, but please leave no trace. It was astonishing how much trash was left behind from people fishing.

A good portion of the trail is gravel with a boardwalk, making it reasonably easy for most hikers to enjoy.

Pro Tip:  Sunsets here are spectacular. Pack a charcuterie board or order one from Graze Local to nibble on while the sun dips below the lake.

Fox Island Beach

Families will love the newly built playground at Fox Island Beach. An all-inclusive playground lets children of all abilities be able to play. My daughter adored the park, especially the unique features of the park, like an “elevator” and “bumpy slide.”

The beach area is well-maintained and open to swimmers. I found that Fox Island has fewer geese than Old Field Beach, therefore not as geese droppings.

Benches are scattered throughout the entire park, along with picnic areas, making it the go-to spot for kids.

Address: 8839 Chautauqua Blvd, Lakeview, OH 43331

Lake Ridge Island

Need a quick playground stop with the kids? Head over to Lake Ridge Island for a fun playground! Grab a pizza from nearby Cassano’s to devour lakeside.

Go Shopping at The Indian Lake Store

Deemed the most bizarre shop along Indian Lake, the Indian Lake Store is genuinely something to behold. You will find souvenirs and gifts of every shape and size. Their collection of hand-carved wood statues gives this shop its quirky charm.

Take a selfie with one of the giant pirates before scouring the collection of intriguing artifacts throughout the store. It will be hard to leave empty-handed, so proceed with caution.

Get Your Picture At The Indian Lake Mural

Speaking of selfies, don’t forget to get a photo with the Indian Lake Postcard Mural next to the Gathering Grounds Coffee shop.

Rent A Boat

One of the highlights of Indian Lake is getting out on the water. Spend-A-Day Marina is one of the few spots that offers pontoon boats for rent at Indian Lake, along with various other watercraft. I recommend booking your boat online, as they sell out quickly during peak season.

In-Season Rental Hours: Memorial Day through Labor Day

• Daily Rentals: 8:30 AM-4:30PM OR 9:30 AM-5:30PM
•  Weekly Rentals: Return by 4:30 PM on the last day of the rental  

Off-Season Rental Hours: April, May, September, October (weather permitting) 10% Discount After Labor Day.

• 9:00 AM-4:30PM (Daily Rentals)
•  12:00 AM-4:30PM (Sunday hours)

Sandy Beach Bridge

Take a stroll across the iconic Sandy Beach Bridge. Once, it connected the east side of the Sandy Beach Amusement Park to eateries and other attractions on the west side. Sadly, the bridge closed along with the amusement park in the early 70’s. 

After decades of decay, the bridge was restored in 2014 and reopened to the public. The bridge, walkway, benches, and multiple historical markers are all part of the theme “Bridging the Past Into the Future”. 

Pro Tip: The Donut Shop is directly across from the Sandy Beach Bridge. Grab donuts and coffee, then venture over to the read the markers and walk across the bridge.

Best Restaurants At Indian Lake, Ohio

Shakes at the Lake

Long days at the lake always require ice cream! Shakes at the Lake is a charming small-town ice cream spot serving soft serve and hand-dipped ice creams. In addition to sweet treats, they serve smash burgers, cheesesteaks, hot dogs, and more!

Gathering Grounds

Good coffee is a must during any vacation, and Gathering Grounds is the spot to get it. There is a reason the line is often out the door, and it is because their coffee is excellent. Choose between a coffee flight or one of their seasonal flavor, or get your go-to order!

Pick up a few goodies from the One-Eyed Cookie Lab during your visit. They sell a lot of their items in their display case up front.

Froggy’s At The Lake

If you are kid-free, then Froggy’s is the spot you want to be. The largest full-service resort at Indian Lake, Ohio, Froggy’s is the go-to destination for fun, featuring a swim-up pool bar, live entertainment every Saturday, Sunday, and holidays, seasonal campgrounds, docking for your boat, nightly rentals, tasty food, and cold beverages!

Donut Shop

The Donut Shop is an Indian Lake staple. These freshly made donuts sell out quickly, so the earlier you get there, the more of a selection you will have. We crossed the street to sit on the benches overlooking the Sandy Beech Bridge and watched the boaters pull up into the boat docks to grab donuts to go!

Cassano’s Pizza

Pizza is always a good idea when at the lake. Cassano’s delivers, has a wonderful indoor dining area, and serves up Italian specialties.

A few other local favorites to grab a bite to eat at are:

• The Root Beer Stand
•  Cranberry Resort Waterfront Bar & Grill
•  Indian Head Roadhouse
•  La Playa Azul Cocina & Cantina

Vacation Rentals At Indian Lake

There are a variety of affordable vacation rentals throughout Indian Lake. We stayed at the charming Lakehouse Luxe during our recent visit, which was everything our family needed. A big, welcoming living room, plenty of comfy beds, a fully stocked kitchen, and a lovely soaking tub were part of the charm. 

We would often retreat to the spacious deck to enjoy a glass of wine while watching Sophie play in the yard. If you go out early enough, there is tons of wildlife and birds.

Being centrally located to many restaurants and parks made this a rental ideal. We could quickly zip off when the family got hungry or needed to burn off that extra energy at a playground.

Lakehouse Luxe is pet-friendly, so your furry friends can join in on the vacation.

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