Indian Lake, reservoir and unincorporated community situated 509 feet (155 m) above sea level in Denville, New Jersey
Indian Lake is a reservoir in Denville Township, New Jersey, set among wooded hills with homes lining much of its shore. The lake contains a small island called Lenape Island, and its waters are fed by Den Brook, a stream that once ran freely through the area.
The lake was created around 1920 when Joseph Righter built a dam on Den Brook to develop a new residential community. After Righter died in 1922, a company took over the land and gave the lake its current name.
The lake's name recalls the Lenni Lenape, who lived in this region long before European settlement. Lenape Island, a small island within the lake, still carries that name today and keeps the connection to the area's past visible to visitors.
The lake sits close to Interstate 80 and US Route 46, making it easy to reach by car from many parts of the region. Access is reserved for members of the Indian Lake Community Club, so it is worth checking membership conditions before planning a visit.
Since 1927, the community has chosen a king and queen each summer from among local teenagers, with a weekend of celebrations and a parade around the lake. During World War II, the titles were temporarily changed to Mr. Victory and Miss Liberty, but the tradition itself never stopped.
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