Indian Lake holding eclipse events despite recent storm damage

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RUSSELS POINT, Ohio (WCMH) – Indian Lake businesses who assisted in storm recovery efforts after a deadly tornado struck on March 14 are asking Ohioans to consider supporting their establishments during the solar eclipse weekend.

“The Indian Lake community still needs business and still need tourism,” said Anna Louden,  Logan County Visitors Bureau director. “We want the whole area to be able to [benefit from] the solar eclipse and be able to bring community in and get tourists to experience the area as people have done a lot to clean it up.”

Rebekah Smith, co-owner of Indian Lake Brewing Company, was one of the residents who helped coordinate volunteer groups after the tornado. She said citizen-led volunteer efforts took place from March 15 to March 24, before they passed the baton to government agencies.

“We had hundreds of volunteers that flooded the area and kind of showed up and said, ‘What can we do?’” Smith said. “We would match people with needs to people that could help them based on what their skillset was or what equipment they brought.” 

Although the old brick building that houses the Indian Lake Brewing Company only had superficial damage, the company closed for just under a week following the extensive storm damage the area faced. While cleanup efforts are not over, multiple local businesses have decided to move forward with eclipse celebrations. 

“We want people to come and be supportive but also be respectful,” Smith said. “People just have to remember that we have community members who’ve lost absolutely everything and have gone through a really traumatic experience.”

The Indian Lake Brewing Company will be celebrating the eclipse Friday through next Monday, with food trucks every day, the release of eclipse-themed beers, and a “I blacked out at Indian Lake” party on the day of the eclipse. Smith said the brewery has some table reservations on eclipse day, but otherwise tables will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

“We want to sort of celebrate how far the lake has come in its recovery efforts but also acknowledge how much farther we have to go,” Smith said. 

Indian Lake Adventures was also among the local businesses that supported the community in the tornado aftermath. The business, which did not suffer any storm damage, is housing victims who were displaced. The company also assisted with donation collection and started a GoFundMe page, according to Adventure Parks manager for Indian Lake Adventures Aaron Norris. 

“We have always been huge partners with the community and surrounding areas, and so when Lakeview got hit, it kind of hit pretty close to home for all of us,” Norris said. “I was born and raised in Logan County so, for me, I have a lot of friends and family in that area that were affected by the tornado damage.”

Indian Lake Adventure’s two campgrounds will be hosting a weekend full of activities Friday through next Monday. Bounce houses, movie nights, food trucks and live entertainment are among the lineup of activities. The campgrounds will also host viewing areas for the general public.

“This is kind of our way of, kind of, allowing the community to turn off everything that’s happened and just enjoy a weekend of family, fun and activities where they don’t have to think about everything that happened,” Norris said. “It just gives them the opportunity to relax for a weekend and continue on as much normalcy as possible.”

Additionally, on Friday, Indian Lake Adventures will open its brand new brewery, called Camp Brewing. 

“I think our area needs the income,” said Stasia Peake with Camp Brewing. “We need to have that influx of people. Everybody at the lake is coming off of winter which is a slow time so this was a nice anticipated boost to get our season started early, so I know that it’s important for that and I think it’s also going to be a good distraction for a lot of people.”

Smith said while Indian Lake is on the minds of numerous people today, the area faces a long-term recovery process. 

“We’re open all summer so people should come see us for the eclipse but they should also plan on coming back in June and July and enjoying the summer and boating and supporting the businesses and our people then too,” Smith said. 

The Indian Lake State Park campground, which reopened about two weeks after the tornado hit, will be honoring all reservations made for the eclipse. Reservations for the campground are sold out.