Schaefer Lake Lot Owners Association (SLLOA) is the association of home owners of Schaefer Lake, a 100 acre private lake near Hope, Indiana. It is a fee-based private association dedicated to the maintenance and preservation of Schaefer Lake and its surrounding neighborhood of just over 100 homes.
In the early 1950’s, Albert Schaefer took his family to visit a friend in Minnesota. While there, his oldest daughter Sandra got a chance to go water skiing with the family friends. Inspired by the vacation to the lake, Albert told his wife that he planned to build a lake that would make water sports possible in the Hope area.
Albert & Helen Schaefer
The Schaefer's purchased some waste flood ground from three farmers soon after. by 1956 they started clearing trees from along the creek bank. It's believed that the construction of the dam and spillway started in 1958. By the end of 1959, Schaefer had turned acres and acres of waste flood ground into a beautiful man-made lake.
The lake had filled several months sooner than anticipated, and in 1960 a public beach was erected. A bath house was constructed, similar to the one at Brown County State park. Trucks brought in the sand load after load, and the beach became a local hit. For many summers, hundreds of people came to swim and relax at the public beach.
As the beach gained popularity, Schaefer began selling lots on the lake, which began the Schaefer Lake subdivision. A second and third set of homes were added over time, and eventually the Lot Owners Association took over the maintenance of the lake. Today, Schaefer Lake has just over 100 homes.
In the early 1980’s, the beach was closed and the last few houses were erected. To this day, Albert’s children and grandchildren remain closely associated with the lake.
Few people leave their community a gift that’s comparable to Schaefer Lake. Albert Schaefer’s vision and persistence left us a beautiful gift that continues to give. Today, residents enjoy the serenity and entertainment of the lake. The beautiful views of the lake shift with the Indiana weather. From summer water sports in the summer, to freezing waters in the winter, the lake is stunning year-round.
