- Paw Paw Lake
-
Coordinates: 42°12′27″N 86°15′47″W / 42.2075°N 86.26306°W
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
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Paw Paw Lake [lake]
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Paw Paw Lake [populated place]
- ^ Deer Forest
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Auction of Real Estate and Children's Amusement Park!". Direct Auction Galleries, Inc. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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
Categories:- Michigan geography stubs
- Geography of Berrien County, Michigan
- Defunct resorts
- Lakes of Michigan
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.