About Us
Recognizing the need to protect what many generations of Fox Lakers revere as hallowed ground, the Fox Lake Preservation Foundation was created to advocate for the African American cultural heritage of Fox Lake and natural and built environs through fundraising, educational programming and community outreach.
Our Story
In 2001, Fox Lake was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the US Department of the Interior for its African American Heritage. Fox Lake was recognized for its cultural heritage, historic architecture and the natural environment.
In 2021, Fox Lake was recognized by the Indiana Historic Bureau as a community that represents the rich and diverse past of Indiana, and a marker was erected in the summer of 2022 relating that history to all who pass by.
In 2026, the boundaries of the National Register were expanded to include not just the original contributing structures, but the entirety of the lake and the land boundaries where dwellings and activities have taken place since the inception of Fox Lake. Fox Lake is one of the only intact and active Black recreational resort communities of the early to mid-20th century.
Cultural Heritage
Fox Lake boasts a rich history as a resort community for Black families dating back to the 1920s. The first cottages were completed in the late 1920s by families from Indianapolis. As word spread, Black families from around the Midwest started descending on Fox Lake.
The Property Owners Association was formed in 1938 and is still operational today. From the 1940s to the 1960s Fox Lake was listed in The Negro Motorist Green-Book.
The Pryor Country Home, now independently listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the Department of the Interior for its African American Heritage, and the Mar-Fran Motel were specifically listed in the book. Dances and social gatherings were held at the clubhouse.
Horseback riding, swimming, fishing and boating were among the activities available to Fox Lake residents and guests. Many of those same activities and more are still available today.
Natural Environment
Fox Lake is surrounded by hilly moraine, consisting of woodlands tangled with scrub growth and wetlands. Over the years, homes and infrastructure, such as lanes, septic systems and wells were built. A public access was added, bringing more recreational and fishing boats to the lake.
Changing conditions put the woodlands, wetlands, water quality and wildlife at risk. Larger homes are being built, full time residents are moving in and local realtors and developers have "discovered" Fox Lake.
Old septic and well systems are starting to fail. Maintaining a tranquil, sustainable oasis is becoming a formidable challenge, but we are committed to helping achieve appropriate growth and enjoyment.
Historic Architecture
Fox Lake is still home to many of its original cottages built between the late 1920s and 1950s. The mostly seasonal, modest, one-story structures exhibit elements of Craftsman, Ranch and Mid-Century Modern styles, with casement windows, fireplaces and screened porches.
The Pryor Country Home, Mar-Fran Motel, F.B. Ransom Home and the K.T. Thompson Lodge are examples of Fox Lake's historic architecture. When you see these places, their stories come alive.
Historic culture is rooted in the structures and surrounding lands. When these are diminished, the embedded cultural heritage is erased. Original cottages attest to their builders' prosperity and to a lifestyle where Black history lives.