Starke County (Ind.) ; Hotels; Lakes & ponds; Tourism; Tourists;
The Bass Hotel or Old Bass Hotel as it was sometimes known was located on the west side of Bass Lake near today's intersection of 500 South and State Road 210. Built around 1890, it was right on the lake. A road did not pass by that area then and...
Buchta's was a popular meeting place at Cedar Point partly because of its location but also because the store sold a little bit of everything for tourists. This structure remained intact until it was torn down for new residential homes in 2005.
The Best View Hotel was located on the north end of Bass Lake. It boasted two floors and the wide porches and rockers looking out over the lake made it a popular place for vacationing. This hotel was later home to the Shore Room, a popular...
Starke County (Ind.) ; Hotels; Vacations; Lakes & ponds; Leisure;
The Bass Hotel on the west side of Bass Lake, was a very popular vacation site for visitors in the early 1900's. It provided boating, fishing, swimming, and lots of relaxation. It burned several times and was rebuilt at least twice.
The Kaiserhoff Hotel was located at the east end of Bass Lake in what is known as Winona. It was a vacation site for many people from both Indiana as well as Illinois.
Starke County (Ind.) ; Lakes & ponds; Boats; Residential streets;
This is a view of the residential area on the west side of Bass Lake near 1940. As can be seen, many residents had begun to build their own docks to tie up their boats as well as develop areas to picnic right on the lake's edge.
Starke County (Ind.) ; Lakes & ponds; Dirt roads; Automobiles;
The stretch of waterfront and dock shown here is a view in front of the Best View Hotel on Bass Lake. The Best View was a very popular vacation site in the 1920's. However, the roads near the lake were still very primitive and could be almost...
Starke County (Ind.) ; Parks; Swimming; Lakes & ponds;
Roepstorff's park was adjacent to their general store and located in Winona, Indiana, on Bass Lake's northeast corner. Lots of swimming and water sliding were enjoyed there. Many picnics were consumed there too.
Starke County (Ind.) ; Swimmers; Beaches; Lakes & ponds; Lifeguards;
In 1931 the state of Indiana built Bass Lake State Beach using long drag lines to pull sand from the lake’s bottom to build the beach.
At the time of this photo the beach was owned by the state of Indiana. After 2000, both the beach and...
There was much to do on Bass Lake and there still is. However much of the lakeside is now owned by individual residents. Winona's bowling alley in the 1920s is shown in the background.
Starke County (Ind.) ; Water slides; Lakes & ponds; Trees;
At one time there was a part of Bass Lake that was a heavy tourist draw. Near the hotels there was a wooden water slide, boats for rent and a bowling alley for inside entertainment. This was located in Winona at Bass Lake's north end.
"I saw this Blue Heron for myself, hunted him to his favorite feeding grounds alone, and secured these studies of him, which may be the reason I am so especially fond of them. I was located at a small boarding-house on the Inland Route, and with my...
"I saw this Blue Heron for myself, hunted him to his favorite feeding grounds alone, and secured these studies of him, which may be the reason I am so especially fond of them. I was located at a small boarding-house on the Inland Route, and with my...
Color Photograph. View from diving platfrom at Lake Shakamak looking back at beach. 6,000 spectators at AAU Championship Swim Meet. Photograph appears to be taken at night.
The postcard shows Syracuse Park. The description on the back of the postcard reads: "Syracuse City Park, Syracuse, IN. This beautiful park is located at the North End of Syracuse Lake, one of the finest natural lakes in Northern Indiana, for...
