Lake Wawasee itself has an interesting history. The glacial lake is the largest wholly contained in Indiana, with about 3000 acres of surface area. Fed by springs and watershed, it also happens to be a very healthy and clear lake, with reported clear viewing down 15 feet in good conditions. The average clear viewing depth of other Midwestern lakes is 2 - 6 feet.
It's a great lake for sailing and fishing, and appears to support a rich social life for humans. Eli Lilly and Al Capone had places here, as do many other well-off folks from Indianapolis and the Chicago area. Popular lakeside real estate can be expensive, so as one would expect there are million-dollar homes set close together along the lake. Here is a place you might want to book a pontoon or other passenger boat cruise, take a beverage along and let a guide inform you about all the different well-known properties. This can be very relaxing and entertaining.
Oakwood itself is comfortable, although I found the beds to be too soft. Maybe hotels need to go with Sleep Number beds or something similar, in which a patron can make their bed firmer or softer. Lots of hotels have chosen this option in recent years. It was quiet enough - strangely almost too quiet the weekend we were there. We found the evening meals at the restaurant called The Pier to be good. In a remote location such as this, where there are few grocery stores and everything has to be delivered in, sometimes evening menu selections will sell out. Or they will be out of selections from the wine list. I suppose it helps to prepare to be flexible.
I can't recommend the buffet breakfast, however. It seemed as though masses of food had been prepared and laid out, in anticipation of large numbers of people. But there the food sat, the crowds didn't come, so the hash browns had become cardboard-ish and the eggs dry and rubbery. The staff was really nice, though. Maybe it was just an off morning for a usually-lovely breakfast service.
Oakwood has a small salon and spa, called J Three. We were on the receiving end of a couple of massages there, and were happy with the results. We also especially loved the salt-based hand scrub that was placed in lovely bowls next to the bathroom sinks in the resort. I had never tried this. After one washes one's hands, one takes a scoopful of this salt and rubs and massages into the hands. It smells wonderful, but moreover, it wonderfully refines and polishes the hands. Salt is also antifungal and antibacterial used in this way. I'm going to buy some over a website to give as gifts.
Our experience at Oakwood was pleasurable, and I would go back. Wawasee used to be called Lake Turkey, but at some point the name reverted to this Miami native American name, which one source I read said referred to a chief with a flat belly. I adore wild turkeys, but I do think the ancient name is much more charming.
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