Orchard Island, Ohio

Orchard Island captured with NASA satellite in 2026

Orchard Island is an unincorporated community and residential and tourist area located in Washington and Stokes townships, Logan County, Ohio, United States.[1] Although Orchard Island can only be accessed by road via Russells Point, most addresses on Orchard Island have a Lakeview ZIP Code (43331).

Location

Orchard Island is part of an island chain which encompasses the southeastern shore of Indian Lake, north of Russells Point. Orchard being the largest, neighbor islands include Wolfe, Fox, Willow Bank, and Crystal Beach.[2] At times during the 20th century, Indian Lake was known as "Ohio's Million Dollar Playground."[3] Broadway vaudeville actor Roscoe Ails bought Crystal Beach Island in 1925.[4]

History

An artist rendering of Orchard Island in the early 20th century provided by the Columbus Metropolitan Library

A popular resort island by the 1930s, investors opened a 100-room hotel, which would later become known as the Wicker Hotel and Resort,[5] and dance hall in the early 20th century, which sprang up around the Crown Pavillion constructed around 1900.[6] The first bridge to the island was constructed in 1901.[3] Tennis courts were present on the island in its early development days.

During this time, the island was home for several assemblies of the intellectual Chautauqua movement beginning in 1910, similar to those occurring in New York. It was home to a Boys City Camp associated with the movement. Notable speakers on the variety circuit who visited the island, among entertainers such as the Bob Royce Orchestra,[6][7] included William Jennings Bryan and Warren Harding.[8][3]

Bathing Beach, Orchard Island, 1921

The pavillion was sold in 1923 to an Ohio corporation seeking to make the island a convention destination.[6] The island, under the ownership of the Orchard Island Improvement Company, which traded on the stock market under the name Orchard Island, Inc.,[3] maintained the hotel before the island was eventually partitioned and sold to private individuals.[9] Purchased in 2000, the pavillion was restored over the next few years by the James F. Dicke Family, who demolished the remaining Wicker Hotel and Resort.[5][6] In July 2026, the Wicker property sold for $5 million.[10]

In the mid-1920s, the Orchard Island Sailing Club was formed by military contractor and inventor Louis Zerbee, eventually becoming the modern Indian Lake Yacht Club, which still exists today.[11][12]

In the 1930s, Karl Stumpp built a 15-room hotel and resort called Shore Gables, which was demolished in the 1990s, and along with the hotel opened a grocery store.[3]

In 2004, after 77 years, the United States Post Office reopened on the island.[13][14]

Today the island hosts the annual Orchard Island Golf Cart Parade,[13] and island residents the DePasquale Family are known to appear on the lake in their Quandt Group[15][16] West German-manufactured Amphicar.[17] They are longtime members of the International Amphicar Owners Club, headquartered on the island.[18] The Indian Lake Brewing Company offers the "Orchard Island Lager."[19]

2024 tornado

The community of Orchard Island suffered a direct hit from a destructive tornado on March 14, 2024 at roughly 7:50PM Eastern Standard Time.[20] Several other nearby communities were also impacted by this same long-track, considerable sized tornado, such as Russell's Point. As many as three fatalities and many injuries were reported as a result of the tornado, which was later identified by NWS damage survey teams as an EF-3.[21]

Economy

The island is home to several marinas and aquatic recreation establishments.[22] Real estate accounts for a share of the economic activity, with many estates, chalets,[23] and cottages serving as rental property for tourists during the peak summer season.[24]

References

  1. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Orchard Island, Ohio
  2. ↑ "Map Showing Development Areas at Indian Lake" Archived May 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Indian Lake. Retrieved 26 April 2011
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Indian Lake" Cornelis van der Veen. Arcadia Publishing. 2019. p. 2, 21, 22, 45, 71, 105. Retrieved 2 July 2026
  4. ↑ "Logan County History: Roscoe Ails", News Room. Peak of Ohio. August 25, 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2026
  5. 1 2 "Wicker Resort", Indian Lake Post Cards. Retrieved 2 July 2026
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Orchard Island, Ohio", New Bremen Historic Association. Retrieved 30 June 2026
  7. ↑ "Robert Royce", DAHR. Retrieved 30 June 2026
  8. ↑ "For Your Amusement", Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Spring 2000. Retrieved 26 April 2011
  9. ↑ "Report", Ohio. Dept. of Health, Ohio. State Board of Health. 1913. Retrieved 26 April 2011
  10. ↑ "0 Orchard Avenue", Paige Duff. MLS. July 22, 2026. Accessed July 26, 2026
  11. ↑ "Logan County history: Indian Lake Yacht Club", April King. Peak of Ohio. March 8, 2026. Retrieved 30 June 2026
  12. ↑ "Louis & Alfonso Zerbee", Mary Mortimer. Logan County History Center. Jul 11, 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2026
  13. 1 2 "Situated Between Columbus And Fort Wayne Is Ohio's Charming Island With Lakefront Fun", Ikam Acosta. Islands.com. November 22, 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2026
  14. ↑ "Orchard Island Post Office Rededication 2016", Indian Lake Area Historical Society. Youtube. Retrieved 2 July 2026
  15. ↑ "The Amphicar that President Lyndon Johnson Used to Prank People, 1960s", Rare Historical Photos. August 27, 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2026
  16. ↑ "1966 Quandt Group Amphicar", Legendary Motor Car. Retrieved 1 July 2026
  17. ↑ "Orchard Island couple making big slash with Amphicar", Justin Miller. Urbana Daily Citizen. July 26, 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2026
  18. ↑ "International Amphicar Owners Club", Club Express. Retrieved 26 June 2026
  19. ↑ "Orchard Island Lager", Indian Lake Brewing Company. Untappd. Accessed July 26, 2026
  20. ↑ "At least 3 dead, 25 injured from EF3 tornado in Logan County". March 15, 2024.
  21. ↑ "NWS says Indian Lake hit with EF3 tornado; 8 tornadoes in Ohio total so far". March 15, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Indian Lake Directory", Indian Lake. Retrieved 26 April 2011
  23. ↑ "The Chalet", Resort Rentals Indian Lake. Retrieved 26 April 2011
  24. ↑ "Seasonal rentals", Indian Lake Area. Retrieved 26 April 2011

40°28′47″N 83°53′07″W / 40.47972°N 83.88528°W / 40.47972; -83.88528


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