Bixler Lake Trek

Thousands of years after the glaciers retracted from this area, man began to perceive Bixler Lake as a very special place. The Ice Age left our area with hundreds of small lakes and accounts tell of Indians, Potawatomi and other tribes living in this region and using its lakes as places to live, hunt and occasionally to play. The early white settlers brought a new way of life and by 1854, nine years before Kendallville’s incorporation, Bixler Lake was already know as the town’s swimming’ hole. 

In 1866 and 1867, a small steamboat named the Flying Dutchman carried up to 50 passengers to the lake’s east shore where they visited a privately run restaurant and ice house. The venture was a financial failure, but from 1900 to approximately 1912, a small launch again transported visitors to the east side, known as Sherman Park. Many young people enjoyed the dance hall and beautiful wooded picnic area during this turn of the century era. Supervised swimming came to Bixler Lake in the late teens and 1920’s. Before two bath houses were built, men and women swam on alternate days. Modesty prevented the wearing on one’s swim suite in public, and the beach did not open until the lifeguard unlocked the doors each day.

During this same period, the City was taking more interest in Bixler Lake’s potential as a recreational asset. Mayor William C. Auman helped lead the movement to purchase land surrounding the lake. Trees were planted from the hillside to the lake terrace to help establish a formal park setting. The City sponsored supervised youth play programs during these summers and playground areas were constructed on the west side.

During the winters, kids built toboggan runs from ice and snow on the terraces near the newly constructed Lakeview Hospital, providing an exciting ride across the lake’s frozen surface. The dream of the 1885’s Mayor, Charles Aichele, was that of opening a road to Bixler Lake’s scenic east side. Finally it became a reality, seventy-five years later when the Kendallville Kiwanis Club proposed a massive, 3 year development plan. Through their efforts a large 149 acre park was first opened to the public in the 1960’s, providing camp sites, a picnic area and a second beach for all to enjoy.

Many improvements have been made since, including dedication of the 75 acre Wetland Nature area, south of Bixler Lake in 1984. The addition of a walking trail along Sherman Street in 1987, finally provided the opportunity to hike, jog or cross-country ski around the lake in a maintained park setting.