Russells Point

The Sportsmen's Rest at Russells point ca 1911

Hunting and fishing camp at the Lewistown Reservoir in 1888

John Russell's family farmed along the shores of the Lewistown Reservoir in the Lake Ridge area.

Harry Mansfield postcard of Russells Point in 1908. Mansfield always put an "M" on his postcards.

The John Russell home was located on a point of land that became known as "Russells Point".

Fisherman near Russells Point in 1910

Ready to fish at Russells point in 1911

Fishing boats at Russells Point in 1911

Sandy Beach Amusement Park at Russells point ca 1942. Postcard by John S. Brentlinger.

Russells Point grew from the home and farmland of John and Mary Russell into one of Indian Lake’s best-known destinations. Its early history reflects both the quiet rural character of the area and the beginnings of tourism and recreation that would later define the community.

John Russell was born in 1847 to James and Amanda Russell. The family lived near the original spring-fed area of Indian Lake known as Lake Ridge. John spent much of his early life on the family farm along the shores of the Lewistown Reservoir. Around 1876, he married Mary Hullinger of Champaign County. The couple made their home on a point of land that later became known as “Russells Point.” Their white frame house, enclosed by a white picket fence, stood amid thick woods that created a lush, cool retreat. Together, John and Mary Russell raised seven daughters and two sons.

John farmed the land and raised livestock. Pasture for the family’s herd of cows lay on what was later known as Orchard Island. To reach it, John and the cows crossed a shallow channel, splashing back through it at the end of each day on their way to the barn.

During one of John’s trips around the lake, he noticed a stretch of government-owned land jutting into the reservoir along its southern edge. Known for good fishing and camping, the area struck him as a place with real potential for growth. In October 1891, he leased seven acres from the Bureau of Public Works at a rate of $48 per year for 15 years.

As fishermen made their way to the lake over muddy roads and through difficult conditions, they often stopped at the Russell home for help and food. With each passing year, more arrived, and their camping parties were often rowdy. At first, the family was happy to oblige, but after three years, the constant stream of visitors became too much for the growing household. They missed the peaceful farm life they had once enjoyed.

In 1894, John Russell terminated his contract and sold his land to James A. Marshall and Elmer McLaughlin. The family then moved to a farm near Ada, Ohio, where they spent the rest of their lives. John Russell died in 1925, and Mary died in 1943.

When John Russell first imagined the area’s future, he could not have known it would one day be celebrated as “The Million-Dollar Playground.” In 1924, Pappy Wilgus, and his son French, opened Sandy Beach Amusement Park at Russells Point. The park remained a major attraction for more than 50 years. Today, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources reports that Indian Lake attracts nearly 1.5 million visitors annually.