Did you know the Buckeye State has one of the
largest inland lakes in the Midwest? At first
glance, you would think you were at Lake Erie, but
Ohio’s Grand Lake St. Marys is a site to see – rich
in history as well as recreational opportunities.
Nine miles long and averaging nearly three miles
wide, Grand Lake St. Marys is definitely Ohio’s
largest inland lake. And, prior to the construction
of Lake Mead and Hoover Dam in Nevada in the 1930s,
this western Ohio lake held the distinction of being
the largest man-made lake in the world!
I recently made my first visit to this amazing
13,500-acre lake and it was easy to see why outdoor
enthusiasts flock here year round to take advantage
of water skiing, fishing, pleasure boating, camping,
and just plain relaxing. And why hundreds of
full-time residents enjoy a placid lifestyle on the
lake's picturesque 60 miles of shoreline.
To look at this grand lake today, you would never
guess it was once a vast prairie wetland. Pioneer
Ohioans drained the wetland and turned that portion
of western Ohio into one of the richest agricultural
areas in the world.
Grand Lake St. Marys, located in Auglaize and
Mercer counties, is one of a dozen Ohio lakes that
were hand-dug in the early 1800s to feed the state's
once-thriving canal system. Along with nearby Indian
Lake and Lake Loramie, it helped maintain adequate
water depth in the Miami-Erie Canal, allowing
commercial boat traffic to move between Lake Erie
and the Ohio River.
Considered an engineering marvel of its day, it
took about 1,700 laborers working for eight years at
a rate of 30 cents a day (and a jigger of whiskey
for malaria prevention) to build the lake.
During the mid-to-late 1800s, the lake supported
an energetic commercial fishing industry. Barrels of
fish were caught and shipped to markets up and down
the canal. In the 1890s, the lake area experienced
an oil boom. And for a time, Grand Lake St. Marys
was dotted with oil derricks.
More than 1.3 million people visit the state park
at Grand Lake St. Marys each year to camp, fish,
swim, boat and picnic. The 216-site campground on
the northeast corner of the lake offers popular
camping options, including Rent-A-Camps,
Rent-A-Tepees and fully furnished and heated Cedar
Cabins.
Four public swimming beaches are on the lake, as
are strategically located picnic areas offering
panoramic vistas. Fishing is great year round with
good catches of crappie, bluegill, catfish, bass and
walleye reported. The lake's size and "no horsepower
limit" make it ideal for water skiing and other
power-boating activities.
Birding enthusiasts consider Grand Lake St. Marys
a real jewel as it lies along one of North America's
major bird migration routes. Ducks, grebes, swans,
ospreys, egrets, herons and other species pass
through the area on their way to summer and winter
homes. Among the many water birds that nest on the
lake are magnificent bald eagles. Eagles returned to
the lake in 1996. Since then, four young have
fledged from area nests.
For me, Grand Lake St. Marys was a true
revelation, reminding me that there are eye-opening
outdoor wonders tucked away all across our state.
During your summer travels this year in Ohio, try to
swing by and see one of Ohio’s most unique outdoor
places.
