Lake Haven Park – Part 1

June 5, 1965 Journal ad

Did you know that for a time, a 25-acre spring-fed lake three miles east of Vermilion on Route 6 was the centerpiece of a recreational area that featured swimming, fishing, boating and water skiing ?

Lake Haven Park was the name of the ambitious lake resort located just west of the Lorain Ford Assembly Plant. It was the unique brainchild of a father - son developer partnership.

As explained in an article in the Sandusky Register of March 5, 1964, "L. D. Lee. Sunnyside Road, well-known local business man, is announcing the formation of a partnership with his son, William E. Lee, Sunnyside Road, for the development of Lake Haven Park, a new recreation area on the east side of the city. Bill is well-known to Vermilion area residents. He was born in Huron, and moved to Vermilion with his family at the age of five, when his father operated the Lee Boat Yards, now Vermilion Power Boats. 

"Construction for Lake Haven Park, a 25 acre spring-fed lake, got underway last fall, when over 4,000 trees were cut from the valley. White oak logs were cut and shipped to Spain to be made into barrels, which will be used for whiskey storage in England. The ash, walnut and elm timbers was purchased by a West Salem lumberman. 

"After the valley had been cleared of timber, the next step was construction of a dam to hold back the water. A dam, 100 feet at the base, tapering to a 40-foot width at the top, and 450 feet long is being constructed. The dam will have a cement spillway and overflow, and the finished lake will be approximately 28 feet deep at the dam, decreasing to about four feet at the south end. 

"Lake Haven Park will feature such recreational activities as boating, fishing, and swimming. Approximately 1,000 feet of sandy beaches will be located in three different spots around the lake. Future plans also call for sailboating, paddle-boating, and play areas for children, to include swings, slides and other play equipment. A special attraction which is being scheduled for the summer, are professional hydroplane races which will be organized by Milford Harrison and his son, Kay, both members of the National Outboard Association and American Powerboat Association. Present plans are to hold this type of race on alternate Sundays."

The article pointed out that Shady Lake Acres on Sunnyside Road was also a Lee development. It was centered on Shady Lake, a six-acre spring-fed lake that was divided from Lake Haven by a dam.

By March 24, 1964, the photo below appeared in the Sandusky Register, followed by the Lorain Journal on March 26th.