Ever since my husband and I first met, we have spent a lot of time at Indian Lake Ohio. Located in Logan County, Indian Lake is a 5,104 acre reservoir, making it the second largest inland lake in Ohio. The communities of Russells Point and Lakeview border the lake. Indian Lake got its name from the Native American tribes who once inhabited the area and found it to be an excellent place for hunting and fishing.
Today Indian Lake is known for its boating, water sports, fishing, camping, and many other outdoor activities. Beginning in the 1920’s the Sandy Beach Amusement Park was one of the lake’s biggest attractions. The park closed in 1976 but one reminder of the park remains.
This bridge is the last remnant of the Sandy Beach Amusement Park.
My husband and I visited the lake often even before we had a boat. We’ve a;ways loved being on the water, and there’s so much to do at Indian Lake even if you don’t have one. The lake offers scenic walking and biking paths near the lake. We spent many relaxing days with the kids and grandkids at Old Field Beach. You can drive directly to the beach, which has plenty of parking or you’re arriving by boat can you can pull right up to the shallow swimming area.
If you want to spend more than a day at the lake, there are many campgrounds and cottages that you can rent . Indian Lake State Park is one of the more popular and inexpensive places to camp.
In March 2024, an EF3 tornado stuck the Indian Lake area, causing devastating damage and claiming three lives. Despite the devastation the communities around the lake have shown incredible resilience. Businesses and residents have worked hard to rebuild, and Indian Lake continues to come back stronger. While some rebuilding projects are still underway, many local businesses have reopened. The Indian Head Roadhouse is one of those businesses that had extensive repairs done and has since reopened.
One of the newest attractions at Indian Lake is the golf cart drive in theater. Pattie’s Place is located across from the Family Dollar, at 13534 St. Rt. 235. If you don’t have a golf cart, don’t worry, you can bring your lawn chair.
Of course, the biggest attraction is still the lake itself. There are boat ramps in various places on the lake that provide easy access to the water. If you don’t have a boat, you can rent one at Spend-A-Day-Marina. One unique feature at Indian Lake are the lighted buoys for fun and easy night boating.
Indian Lake is also considered one of the best fishing lakes in Ohio. Those who enjoy fishing regular catch yellow perch, largemouth bass, saugeye, bluegill, crappie, and channel catfish, making it a favorite lake for fishing throughout Ohio.
During our visits we’ve enjoyed trying many of the local restaurants. One of our favorites is Buckeye at the Lake, located at 134 E Main St. Russells Point. They offer casual dining with pizza, salads, sandwiches, pasta and more. I ordered their calzone , while my husband had the boneless wings and fries. Everything was delicious. Although Buckeye at the Lake is one of the newer restaurants at the lake it has already become well known for its excellent pizza.
Buckeye at the Lake
I loved the Calzone