25 Things You Should Know About Buckeye Lake

We've been on the shores of Buckeye Lake since 1986, and we still find ourselves learning something new about this place. It has a history that runs a lot deeper than most people realize — and a personality that keeps drawing people back year after year. Here are 25 things about Buckeye Lake that might surprise you.

□ The Lake Itself

#1 — Ohio's Oldest State Park

Buckeye Lake holds the title of Ohio's oldest state park. That alone tells you something about how long people have been drawn to this water.

#2 — 3,100 Acres of Water

The lake covers 3,100 acres — plenty of room to find your own stretch of water no matter how busy a summer weekend gets.

#3 — 35 Miles of Shoreline

Thirty-five miles of shoreline wraps around the lake — including communities, wildlife areas, and quiet coves. You could spend a whole season exploring and still not see it all.

#4 — More Than 20 Islands

The lake is home to more than 20 islands. Some are small enough to walk around in five minutes, others have their own neighborhoods. It gives Buckeye Lake a character you don't find on most inland lakes.

#5 — It Spans Three Counties

Buckeye Lake stretches across Fairfield, Licking, and Perry counties. Three counties, one lake — and all of it within about 45 minutes of Columbus.

#6 — The Deepest Point Is Only 14 Feet

At its deepest, Buckeye Lake reaches just 14 feet. It's a shallow, warm lake — which is exactly why the fishing is so good and the water warms up quickly in the summer.

□ A History That Goes Back Further Than You'd Think

#7 — It Started as the "Great Buffalo Swamp"

Long before it was a lake, this area was a shallow, swampy lowland formed by a retreating glacier more than 14,000 years ago. Ohio Company explorer Christopher Gist named it the "Great Buffalo Swamp" in 1751. Not the most glamorous name, but it stuck for a while.

#8 — It Was Built to Power Ohio's Canal System

In the 1800s, Ohio needed a reliable water source to keep its canal system running. Buckeye Lake — then called the Licking Summit Reservoir — was constructed between 1826 and 1830 specifically to serve that purpose. It's a man-made lake, built by hand before heavy machinery existed.

#9 — The Cranberry Bog Is One of a Kind in the World

When the lake was first filled in 1826, a floating mass of bog broke free from the lakebed and has been drifting ever since. Cranberry Bog State Nature Preserve — now a National Natural Landmark — may be the only floating island of its kind on earth. It's accessible only by boat and worth the trip if you haven't been.

#10 — It Became a Public Park in 1894

Once the canal era wound down, the state officially opened Buckeye Lake as a public park in 1894. It was formally designated an Ohio State Park in 1949 when the Ohio Department of Natural Resources was created.

□ The Playground of Ohio

This is the part of Buckeye Lake's history that tends to surprise people the most — and it's one of our favorites to share.

#11 — Buckeye Lake Once Had a Full Amusement Park

For decades, Buckeye Lake was known as the "Playground of Ohio" — home to a sprawling amusement park complete with a roller coaster, ferris wheel, dance pavilions, and an arcade. It was one of the premier summer destinations in the entire Midwest.

#12 — Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, and Louis Armstrong Played Here

During the 1940s, Buckeye Lake's dance halls drew some of the biggest names in American music. Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, and Louis Armstrong all performed on these shores. Next time you're watching the sunset from your dock, picture that.

#13 — The Amusement Park Fountain Was Restored in 2023

The last surviving piece of the old amusement park — a fountain that once served as the centerpiece of the midway — was fully restored in the summer of 2023. A small but meaningful nod to everything this lake used to be.

⛵ Life on the Water

#14 — Boating, Fishing, Kayaking, Jet-Skiing & More

ODNR lists boating, birding, fishing, kayaking, jet-skiing, hiking, picnicking, and swimming among the official recreational activities at Buckeye Lake. In winter — when conditions allow — you can add ice skating, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, and ice boating to that list.

#15 — A 4-Mile Walking & Biking Path Runs Along the Shore

A 4-mile shoreline walking and biking path connects Buckeye Lake Village on the North Shore to Liebs Island in Millersport. It's one of the nicest easy walks in the region — especially at golden hour.

#16 — Ohio's Only Inland Sternwheeler Called Buckeye Lake Home

The Queen of the Lake III — Ohio's only inland sternwheeler — operated on Buckeye Lake for years. It's not currently operating as of 2024, but it's a piece of the lake's character that longtime visitors still talk about.

□️ The Community Around the Lake

#17 — Seven Communities Surround the Lake

Buckeye Lake Village, Fairfield Beach, Harbor Hills, Hebron, Millersport, Thornport, and Thornville all make up the Buckeye Lake Region. Each one has its own personality — worth exploring if you haven't made the full loop yet.

#18 — Winterfest Happens Every January

Every January, the Buckeye Lake community gathers for Winterfest — complete with Benny the Bass predicting whether we'll get an early spring, fireworks, live music, food trucks, and the annual Polar Plunge at Buckeye Lake Winery. It's one of the best things about living near the lake in the off-season.

#19 — The Food Scene Has Grown Significantly

The dining options around Buckeye Lake have grown a lot in recent years. The Blue Heron Kitchen & Pub, Buckeye Lake Winery, Hereinafter Cocktail Tavern, Horvath's Harbor, and others have made the region a genuine destination for a night out — not just a day on the water.

#20 — Annual Festivals Worth Your Calendar

The Buckeye Lake region hosts some great annual events: the Thornville Backwoods Fest, the Millersport Sweet Corn Festival, and the Tour de Buckeye Lake cycling event are just a few. If you're planning your season around the lake, it's worth knowing what's coming up.

□️ What's Around the Lake

#21 — Columbus Is Only 30–45 Minutes Away

Buckeye Lake State Park sits about 30 minutes east of Columbus. That proximity is one of the things that makes it so popular — you can be on the water in under an hour from the city, without feeling like you're still in the city.

#22 — The Dawes Arboretum Is 10–20 Minutes North

Founded in 1929, the Dawes Arboretum is a 2,000-acre tree museum just north of the lake with 12 miles of hiking trails and more than 17,000 labeled plant specimens. A great half-day trip — especially in fall when the color is at its peak.

#23 — Legend Valley Is Right Next Door

Immediately east of Buckeye Lake sits Legend Valley — a 230-acre live music venue and campground that has hosted concerts, festivals, and events since the 1970s. If you hear music drifting across the water on a summer evening, that's probably where it's coming from.

#24 — Downtown Granville Is a Short Drive Away

The charming village of Granville — home to Denison University and a lovely walkable downtown full of restaurants and shops — is an easy drive from the lake. It's one of the most picturesque small towns in Ohio, and worth an afternoon if you haven't been.

#25 — The Buckeye Lake Museum Tells the Whole Story

The Buckeye Lake Museum preserves the history of the lake and the region — including the amusement park era, the canal days, and everything in between. If you want to understand why this place has such a devoted community around it, an afternoon at the museum will answer a lot of questions.

□ Bonus fact: Buckeye Lake even has its own app from Escape to Buckeye Lake — searchable by category, with lodging, restaurants, activities, shopping, and more. Handy if you're new to the area and figuring out what to do next.

We've watched this lake from our little corner of the shoreline for nearly four decades. The history, the community, the way it draws people back season after season — it's something you feel more than you can explain. We're glad to be part of it, and we're glad you are too.

See you on the water. □

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□ Make Buckeye Lake Your Home Base This Season

Buckeye Beach Park is the only RV park and marina right on Buckeye Lake — with seasonal RV spots and boat dock slips in a quiet no-wake zone. We've been here since 1986, and we'd love to have you.

Visit Our Website □ 740-538-LAKE

□ buckeyebeachpark.com

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