Paw Paw Lake

For other uses, see Paw Paw Lake (disambiguation).

Coordinates: 42°12′27″N 86°15′47″W / 42.2075°N 86.26306°W / 42.2075; -86.26306

Paw Paw Lake is a lake in Coloma Township and Watervliet Township in Berrien County, Michigan.^[1]

History

Paw Paw Lake was the site of a tourist area^[2] in the early 20th Century. An 1894 Chicago newspaper article was the catalyst in making the shore a resort area, and a rail line extension from nearby Coloma in 1896 started the building boom. Pavilions, hotels, and cottages soon followed, with nationally-known acts performing at the pavilions. Most of these buildings are no longer extant.

Deer Forest

The nearby Deer Forest petting zoo^[3] in Coloma Township opened at the end of the heyday of the resort area.^[4][5] Though many of its assets were auctioned off on September 26, 2009,^[6][7][8][9] the park continues to operate.^[10][11]

References

1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Paw Paw Lake [lake]
2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Paw Paw Lake [populated place]
3. ^ Deer Forest
4. ^ "The History of Paw Paw Lake: THE Resort Destination". Southwest Michigan Business & Tourism Directory. http://www.swmidirectory.org/History_of_Paw_Paw_Lake.html. Retrieved 2008-10-07. 
5. ^ Rasmussen, Roderick L. (1999). A History of Little Paw Paw Lake and Deer Forest, Michigan. Coloma, Michigan: Southwest Michigan Publications. ISBN 096400934X. http://www.swmichiganstore.com/Coloma.html. 
6. ^ "Auction of Real Estate and Children's Amusement Park!". Direct Auction Galleries, Inc. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
7. ^ Lersten, Andrew (2009-09-27). "No bidders for Deer Forest" (fee required). The Herald-Palladium. http://www.theh-p.com/articles/2009/09/27/local_news/869203.txt. Retrieved 2009-09-27. 
8. ^ Russon, Gabrielle (2009-09-26). "Fate uncertain for Coloma's Deer Forest". Kalamazoo Gazette. http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2009/09/fate_uncertain_for_colomas_dee.html. Retrieved 2009-09-27. 
9. ^ Lersten, Andrew (2009-09-29). "Deer Forest may yet reopen" (fee required). The Herald-Palladium. http://www.theh-p.com/articles/2009/09/29/local_news/872660.txt. Retrieved 2009-09-29. 
10. ^ Lersten, Andrew (2010-03-03). "Deer Forest to reopen" (fee required). The Herald-Palladium. http://www.theh-p.com/articles/2010/03/03/local_news/1247345.txt. Retrieved 2010-03-10. 
11. ^ Mumford, Lou (2010-06-18). "Deer Forest still open" (fee required). South Bend Tribune. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/southbendtribune/access/2084767111.html?FMT=ABS. Retrieved 2011-05-20. 

Further reading

• Rasmussen, Roderick L. (1994). Paw Paw Lake, a hundred year resort history 1890’s-1900’s. Coloma, Michigan: Southwest Michigan Publications. ISBN 0964009307. 
• Rasmussen, Roderick L. (1996). Paw Paw Lake, Images of a Lake. Coloma, Michigan: Southwest Michigan Publications. ISBN 0964009323. OCLC 35568252. 
• Rasmussen, Roderick L. (1999). A History of Little Paw Paw Lake and Deer Forest, Michigan. Coloma, Michigan: Southwest Michigan Publications. ISBN 096400934X. 

External links

• The Paw Paw Lake Association