Lake Tippecanoe
Encyclopedia
Tippecanoe Lake is a large, glacially-created lake
in Kosciusko County
in north-central Indiana
and is the deepest natural lake in the state.
, and Webster Lake with the small unincorporated area of Oswego
located near its west-northwestern shore.
, 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.
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. 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Glacial lake
A glacial lake is a lake with origins in a melted glacier. Near the end of the last glacial period, roughly 10,000 years ago, glaciers began to retreat. A retreating glacier often left behind large deposits of ice in hollows between drumlins or hills. As the ice age ended, these melted to create...
in Kosciusko County
Kosciusko County, Indiana
Kosciusko County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. Census 2010 recorded the population at 77,358. The county seat is Warsaw.The county was formed in 1836. It was named after the Polish general Tadeusz Kościuszko, who served in the American Revolutionary War, and then returned to...
in north-central Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and is the deepest natural lake in the state.
Location
Tippecanoe Lake is located approximately 2 miles west of the town of North Webster, IndianaNorth Webster, Indiana
North Webster is a town in Tippecanoe Township, Kosciusko County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,146 at the 2010 census.-Geography:North Webster is located at ....
, and Webster Lake with the small unincorporated area of Oswego
Oswego, Indiana
Oswego is an unincorporated town in Plain Township, Kosciusko County, Indiana.-Geography:Oswego is located near the western shore of Lake Tippecanoe at ....
located near its west-northwestern shore.
Recreation
Tippecanoe Lake is used mostly for recreational purposes such as fishingFishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
and skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
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
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
, Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
, and the 60's act The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
, Tippy Dance Hall is now a teen dance club with Saturday night dances held from Memorial Day to just after Labor day.
Geographic place names
- Bel Rohr Park is located on Patona Bay on Tippecanoe's extreme northwest shore. Patona Bay Resort and Patona Bay Marina are found there.
- Forest Glen is located on Tippecanoe's central western shore and east of Stanton Lake.
- Kalorama Park is located opposite Forest Glen on Tippecanoe's northern shore. This is also the home of Tippecanoe Lake Country Club.
- Mineral Springs is located on Tippecanoe's southeast shore.
- Stony Ridge is located on Tippecanoe's northwest and across Patona Bay from Bel Rohr Park.
- Black's Landing is located on Tippecanoe's northern shore across from Government Point.
Tippecanoe Lake Country Club
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 13Indiana State Road 13
State Road 13 in the U.S. State of Indiana is a north–south highway in north-central and central Indiana that connects the area east of Indianapolis with the northern part of the state. Its northern terminus is at the Michigan state line, although starting at the interchange with the Indiana...
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
LPGA
The LPGA, in full the Ladies Professional Golf Association, is an American organization for female professional golfers. The organization, whose headquarters is in Daytona Beach, Florida, is best known for running the LPGA Tour, a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite female golfers from...
tournaments. Professionals such as Kathy Cornelius
Kathy Cornelius
Kathy Cornelius is an American golfer.Cornelius was born in Boston, Massachusetts and attended Florida Southern College, where she played on the men's golf team, as the school did not have a women's team at the time. She turned pro in 1953 and married golf pro Bill Cornelius the same year...
of Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, and Mickey Wright
Mickey Wright
Mary Kathryn "Mickey" Wright is an American professional golfer. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.-Early life:...
of Port St. Lucie, Florida
Port St. Lucie, Florida
Port St. Lucie is a city in St. Lucie County, Florida, United States. The population of Port St. Lucie was 88,769 at the 2000 census but grew rapidly during the 2000s. In 2009 the State of Florida estimated the City's population at 155,251. Port St. Lucie forms part of a metropolitan area called...
, played Tippecanoe. Aside from golf, T.L.C.C. also provides tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, swimming, and boating and holds a fireworks display for the 4 July
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
.
Marinas
Patona Bay Marina and ResortPatona 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
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
Public access to Tippecanoe Lake is available via:- Grassy Creek, a tributary that connects, by way of a manually-operated lock, the east shore of Tippecanoe Lake to Sawmill, Sechrist, Banning, Irish, Little Barbee, Big Barbee and Kuhn lakes upstream. The ramp is on the east shore of the creek along Armstrong Road, just north of the lock.
- Patona Bay Resort on the NW shore
- Tippy Dance Hall on the SW shore
- Tippecanoe Boat Company on the NE shore
- Pie-Eyed Petey's Marina and Restaurant on the SE shore
Drainage
Tippecanoe is drained by the Tippecanoe RiverTippecanoe River
The Tippecanoe River is a gentle, river in northern Indiana that flows from Big Lake in Noble County to the Wabash River near Battle Ground, about northeast of Lafayette. The name "Tippecanoe" comes from a Miami-Illinois word for buffalo fish, reconstructed as */kiteepihkwana/.The Tippecanoe...
which flows generally south to the Wabash River
Wabash River
The Wabash River is a river in the Midwestern United States that flows southwest from northwest Ohio near Fort Recovery across northern Indiana to southern Illinois, where it forms the Illinois-Indiana border before draining into the Ohio River, of which it is the largest northern tributary...
. The river ends near Battle Ground, Indiana
Battle Ground, Indiana
Battle Ground is a town in Tippecanoe Township, Tippecanoe County in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 1,334 at the 2010 census. It is near the site of the Battle of Tippecanoe....
, 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.
Notable residents
A notable resident was Chris SchenkelChris Schenkel
Christopher Eugene "Chris" Schenkel was an American sportscaster. Over the course of five decades he called play-by-play for numerous sports on television and radio, becoming known for his smooth delivery and baritone voice.-Early life and career:Schenkel began his broadcasting career at radio...
who had a lake side home. Schenkel announced the Triple Crown
United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...
horse races and the Masters Tournament on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
. With ABC Sports he was Olympic anchorman, college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
, NBA, and PBA
Professional Bowlers Association
The Professional Bowlers Association is the major sanctioning body for the sport of professional ten-pin bowling in the United States. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA membership consists of almost 4,300 members worldwide...
bowling announcer. There are also reports that actress Hayden Panatierre's grandparents have a house on Lake Tippecanoe, though this cannot positively be confirmed.
Lore
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 springSpring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
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
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
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.