Kelleys Island

Lake Erie – is one of the 5 Great Lakes and borders four states: Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York as well as the Canadian Province of Ontario. The water at Lake Erie provides waterborne commerce, navigation, manufacturing and power production that has led to extensive industrial development along the 812 miles of shoreline (312 is in Ohio) however, the moderate temperatures of the lake has encouraged a great deal of agriculture and recreation. Lake Erie is the warmest and most biologically productive of the Great Lakes and being the shallowest of the 5 has led it to have more consumable fish than the other Great Lakes combined. The lake’s fishery supports over 10,000 jobs per year and the lake has become the Walleye capital of the world. The lakefront living lifestyle is embodied at Lake Erie as it has everything residents could ask for. With its immense size, Lake Erie is unrivaled by any other lake in the state when it comes to breath-taking and awe inspiring panoramic lake views!

Lake / Beaches / Marinas – Lake Erie is an amazing lake with 9,910 square miles of surface area, an average depth of 60 ft., a maximum depth of 210 ft., and 871 miles of shoreline. Lake Erie is the 4^th largest of the Great Lakes in surface volume and the smallest by water volume but it is the 12^th largest lake in the world by surface area. Most of the lake’s inflow comes from the Detroit River water from the upper Great Lakes; the rest of the water comes from smaller tributaries including the St. Clair River and precipitation. Boaters, anglers and every other lakefront residents can experience lakefront living at its finest as the lake has no regulations on boat size, horsepower or speed limit, except in specified areas. For anglers, the lake is abundant with walleye but is abundant with other ‘superstar’ fish including steelhead and pickerel. The lake also holds smallmouth bass, rainbow and brown trout, salmon, whitefish, smelt, alewife, white perch, yellow perch and white bass. Reportedly the longest fish in the lake is the sturgeon, which can grow up to 10 ft. and 300 lbs., although they are endangered and live on the bottom of the lake. There is also a mythological creature sometimes known as the Lake Erie Monster that some fisherman will occasionally swear to see! The Lake is also popular for shipwreck diving, biking and hiking trails, and lighthouses. The lake offers 191 places to access the water in Ohio as well as 37 public beaches which offer swimming, volleyball, picnic areas and all other activities you could think of. The lake is also the host of dozens of marinas that offer boat and wave-runner rentals, supplies, boat repair services and fuel.     

Kelleys Island – known as Lake Erie’s Emerald Isle is the largest island of the Lake Erie Island Archipelago and is a popular tourist attraction. The island can be reached via ferry, boat or aircraft and sees thousands of visitors a year. The island is famous for its unique archeological, ecological and recreational activities. The island is home to the Glacial Grooves State Memorial is the largest example of glacial grooves left in the world, and the Inscription Rock State Memorial shows evidence of Native American activity on the island from hundreds of years before. The island is also home to abundant and rare wildlife; waterfowl flock to island including osprey and eagles, and residents will catch glimpses of the rare Lake Erie water snake. An 800-acre state park exists on the island which has miles of hiking trails, biking trails and natural wetlands. Kelleys Island State Park offers a sandy beach and camping sites where residents can enjoy the natural beauty of the island. Downtown remains the heart of the island activity with lakefront restaurants, bars, tavern, and dining all with spectacular views of Lake Erie.