Raccoon Lake / Cecil M. Harden
Raccoon Lake / Cecil M. Harden Real Estate Specialist
Raccoon Lake / Cecil M. Harden Real Estate Agent Info
About Raccoon Lake / Cecil M. Harden
Welcome to Raccoon Lake, also called Cecil M. Harden Lake, a great place to visit and a great place to live. It is located in Parke County, Indiana about 50 miles straight west of Indianapolis. The area is hilly and wooded. The lake water is clean and warm in the summer. You can speed boat and ski in some areas or enjoy the quiet. Raccoon Lake also offers great fishing and is the home of several bass tournaments.
Also check out the listings on Rocky Fork Lake which is 8 minutes south of Raccoon Lake.
Raccoon Lake is intimate and inviting, occupying 2,110 square acres of space. The area surrounding the lake is well known for its spectacular seasonal foliage and colors, and the local forests grow thick with hickory, oak, maple, and walnut trees. Anglers of all skill levels rejoice in such stunning panoramas as they take to the water for a productive day of fishing, confident that even better finds lie just below the lake's surface! You can expect to find largemouth, smallmouth, striped, and white bass in abundance, along with walleye, catfish, crappie, and bluegill. And if you're lucky and make it to the water in time for trout season, you'll be rewarded tenfold!
The Raccoon State Recreation Area joins the lake and provides countless recreation facilities and services. Feel free to either rent a boat or bring your own, launching it from any of the public boat ramps. Similarly, swim to your heart's content before sprawling out on a towel along Raccoon Lake's 35 miles of beach. Lake homes for sale are also granted access to several hiking trails, campsites, horseshoe pits, volleyball courts, and an honest to goodness archery range. With so much to do on and off the water, you're free to pack your days as full or free of adventures as you like!
Besides being the proud host of Raccoon Lake, Parke County is also the official “Covered Bridge Capital of America.” Thirty-five historical covered bridges are situated around the county, dating from 1865 to 1921. Head out from your lakefront property and make a fun day trip of searching out these iconic pieces of Indiana history.
Plan another day around the pursuit of your next hole-in-one at any local golf course. Stretch your legs and test your swing at such courses as Raccoon Lake, Parke County, Matthews Park, and Geneva Hills to name a few. If you're interested in living on a Raccoon Lake golf course, check out Golf Course Homes in Indiana on GolfHomes.com for property listings and details.
Spend some time in neighboring Rockville, Indiana, for a taste of local history and culture. Billie Creek Village hosts one of the nation's finest Civil War reenactments, and the Bridgeton Grist Mill offers an awe-inspiring view of the water.
Relax, recoup, and rejoice in mellow days and great adventures on Raccoon Lake today!
Raccoon Lake / Cecil M. Harden Quick Facts
Raccoon Lake / Cecil M. Harden Local Area Businesses
Raccoon Lake is a flood control lake. When too much rain comes in our area we hold the water and slowly let it out. It was built to keep the farm lands and small towns from flooding. Typically the water is only held for 2 weeks then slowly released. If more rain were to come, the water would go out an emergency spillway; no homes get flooded when the lake is high. All homes around Raccoon Lake can only be built on land above the flood level as carefully determined by the engineers when the lake was designed and built. The water is lowered in the winter time. Water remains in the lake for the fish, but it pulls away from the shoreline. This lowering of the water level starts the end of November and comes back up mid spring (depending on rainfall).
History The construction of Raccoon Lake began in 1956, and was completed in 1960. It is a flood control lake created to control the drainage of Big Raccoon Creek as it empties into the Wabash River. Raccoon Lake is located in both Parke and Putnam Counties. It is operated by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, under a lease arrangement with the US Army Corps of Engineers. Throughout the sixty's and early seventy's, it was known as Mansfield Reservoir. As time passed and community grew, Mansfield Reservoir was renamed, Cecil M. Harden Lake on Dec. 14, 1974, by President Gerald Ford. Mrs. Cecil Murray Harden has long been recognized as one of the most active members of the community and very instrumental in obtaining funding for the flood control project. Mrs. Harden served 5 terms as a U.S. Congressional Representative beginning in 1949. Sometimes it can be confusing to know the correct name for this lake. Some call it Raccoon Lake, others call it Cecil M. Harden Lake, Mansfield Lake, Raccoon State Park, or Raccoon State Recreation Area.. The most popular name is Raccoon Lake.
Raccoon Lake is located in Parke County which is known for its many festivals.
Local Businesses
Convenience stores: Raccoon Reef - boat rental, bait 344-7333
Shell Station - 344-1855
Bellmore Store - 344-1515
Gifts - Country Cottage on US 36 -765-739-8022
Birdland Gift Shop on SR 59 -765-344-9218
Restaurants - Big Berry 344-2811
Castaways - 765-344-1644
Ferndale Store, Historic landmark - open when he feels like it
Dogwood Farms/Perennial Gardening -344-0103
Raccoon Lake Golf Course 765-344-1134, Walker Ramp Rd, Rockville, IN
Vin Terre Winery 765-569-5099, 100 W York St, Rockville, IN
Raccoon Lake / Cecil M. Harden Boating Information
The US Army Corps of Engineers maintains an office at the operations area at the dam. Management at the CORPS is responsible for the water level, land based use permits and licenses, such as stairways, seawalls vegetation alteration, rip-rap, foot paths, electric lines, and water withdrawal structures on Federal Property.
Call 765-344-1412 for information or visit Indiana Dept of Natural Resources
The Boat Place 765-344-1844
Reeder's Boat Sales/Repair 765-344-1771
Hartman's Welding Shop Inc 765-344-1622, State Road 36 E, Rockville, IN 47872
Racoon Boat Rental 765-344-1989, RR 1 Box 721, Rockville, IN
Turkey Run Canoe Trips 765-569-6705, 311 W Ohio St, Rockville, IN
Raccoon Lake / Cecil M. Harden Camping Information
Nevins Campground 765.344.1436
Fallen Rock Campground 672-4301
Raccoon Lake State Recreation 765-344-1732, 100 S Raccoon Pkwy, Rockville, IN 47872-8001
Running T Campground 765-344-1230, State Road 36 E, Rockville, IN 47872
Covered Bridge Campground 765-569-3911, 211 S Erie St, Rockville, IN
Holiday Rest Trailer Park 765-344-1756, Walker Ramp Rd, Rockville, IN
Raccoon Lake / Cecil M. Harden Fishing Information
D & L Sporting Goods (by dam) 765-344-0281
Raccoon Reef 765 - 344-7333
Morton Hook & Sinker Bait Shop 765-739-6566, 4919 W US Highway 36, Greencastle, IN 46135-8992
Additional Information
Raccoon Lake Vacation Rental Homes