The Ida Lake Association shares on their web-site, history about the lake. History that probably is not known by many that love the lake. Here are three things you may not know about second largest lake in Minnesota’s Douglas County, Lake Ida.

1) One of the two outlets at the southeast end up the lake was dug in 1869 by Enoch Alden and his sons. They needed a millpond for their mill and this created one by Lake Charlie. “Alden was a direct Mayflower descendant of John and Priscilla Alden”. (Ida Lake Association)

2) Pilgrims Point used to be called Sandy Point and before the United Church of Christ purchased it there was a fishing camp known as the Wickiup Club. It was a private club.

3) There used to be more sand at Pilgrim Point. Im 1970 steps were taken to raise the water level of the lake which resulted in less of a beach at Pilgrim Point. The reason for raising the lake level was to help the owners at the south end of the lake as the water depths was really low. Visit properties at Sunset Strip, Burkeys Lake, and Sahara Lane late in the summer and you will understand what a challenge it must have been prior to 1970.

Interested in joining Lake Ida’s association or donating to it? Visit lakeidamn.org/join-or-donate. If you want to show off your love of Lake Ida, you can buy Ida merchandise.