Postcards of Indian Lake: Part II - Ohio's Million Dollar Playground

Indian Lake, northwestern Ohio, was originally a group of smaller lakes and wetlands occupying 640 acres. In 1850, the Lewistown Reservoir was created to serve as feeder lake for the Miami-Erie Canal. After canal transportation became obsolete, the Reservoir was converted into a public park called the Indian Lake State Park. Entrepreneurs were quick to jump on the opportunities Indian Lake offered and for much of the twentieth century the area was known as Ohio's Million Dollar Playground. Sandy Beach Amusement Park offered rollercoaster rides and other attractions, and hosted concerts by nationally known Big Bands. The amusement park finally closed in the mid 1970s. Since then, the character of Indian Lake has changed and condominiums and permanent homes now dot the waterfront. This book is the second in a series documenting the history of Indian Lake through vintage postcards from the private collection of the author.