What’s So Great about Our Crooked Lake?

from The Windmill Farm & Craft Market 2021

At one time, that outlet was developed into a canal, the Crooked Lake Canal. Opened in 1833, it carried local goods Keuka’s unique “Y” shape causes the water to flow both to Seneca Lake and then on to the Erie Canal. north and south. Here’s how it works: water from the west The canal was later replaced by a branch inlet at Sugar/Guyanoga railroad branch line and is now a Creek flows south into the east hiking and cycling trail, the Keuka branch. There, it combines with Outlet Trail. north-flowing water from the Cold Brook inlet at the Keuka is the only Finger Lake that southern end. The water exits into another Finger Lake. finally exits north out of the outlet into Seneca The lake is about 20 miles long and varies in Lake, at the village of width from one-half mile to 2 miles. It has a Dresden. surface area of 11,730 acres, and a maximum

and mean depth of 186 feet and 101 feet, respectively. It holds around 379 billion gallons of water.

Its name comes from a Native American phrase meaning “Canoe Landing.” The Senecas called it “o-gaya-ga” (“the promontory”) referring to the place where the lake splits into the “Y.” It’s Bluff Point today.

Keuka Lake possesses large and healthy populations of lake trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, landlocked salmon, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and yellow perch. The productive fishery is supported by large numbers of baitfish, mostly sawbellies. Many consider it the best fishery in the region.

The Keuka Lake Association monitors the water to ensure that it is suitable for drinking, fishing, and swimming. Tributary streams, groundwater, and the lake itself are regularly tested for water quality.

White settlement of the area began in 1787 when evangelist Jemima Wilkinson and her followers arrived. Legend has it that she told them she would demonstrate her miraculous powers by walking on Keuka Lake’s waters.

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The winemaking industry of the Finger Lakes was born at the south end of the lake in 1829, when the Reverend William Bostwick began growing grapes for sacramental purposes. In 1861, the Pleasant Valley Wine Company became the first official winery in the area and by 1900, more than 10,000 acres of vineyards surrounded Keuka Lake.

In 1837, steamboats began carrying goods and passengers across the lake. The traffic helped develop cottage neighborhoods along the shoreline.

While the shore of Keuka Lake is primarily residential, • Keuka College is located in Keuka

Park on the western shore of the lake’s east branch; • Keuka Lake State Park is located on the eastern side of the lake’s northwest branch; • Camp Iroquois, run by the New York state Sheriff’s Institute, is located on the eastern side of the bluff; • YMCA Camp Cory is located on the eastern side of the lake’s northeast branch; • Camp Good Days and Special Times is located on the western side of the lake’s northwest branch; and • Garrett Memorial Chapel is located near the tip of the bluff between the two branches.