Fox Lake, resort in Pleasant Township, Steuben County, Indiana
Fox Lake is a historic resort in Pleasant Township founded in the 1920s, composed mainly of one-story wooden cottages with simple gable roofs. The resort includes about 27 buildings such as cottages, a hotel, a restaurant, a dance hall, and recreational facilities like a beach with bathhouse and a pier extending into the lake.
Fox Lake was established in 1924 by Indiana businessmen to create a safe place for Black families to vacation during segregation, making it the only resort in the state built specifically for middle-class African American families. The site was developed and expanded between 1928 and 1950, and later recognized on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.
Fox Lake was a place where Black families could spend time together without worry, something impossible at most other resorts of that era. The community held regular events like dances at the hall and swimming contests in the lake, creating a social life that brought people together.
The site is easy to explore on foot since all buildings are relatively close together in a calm, open setting that invites walking. Visitors should remember this is a historic area, so they should treat the old structures with care and allow time to read the informational markers and notice architectural details throughout the grounds.
Fox Lake was listed in the Green Book, a travel guide that showed Black travelers safe places to stay during segregation, making it a refuge that extended beyond the local community. Famous figures such as musician Duke Ellington and boxing champion Joe Louis visited the resort, bringing attention to this quiet place and cementing its importance as a gathering spot for African American leisure and culture.
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