lake property search

I might be looking for some lake front property in the next year or two and was wondering if anyone could make a suggestion for something about 4 hours maximum from the South suburbs of Chicago. Not looking for anything fancy but would like a decent size lake that is good for skiing, fishing and swimming. Would consider WI, IN, MI or possibly IL.

Thanks, just the type of info I'm looking for, I'll let my browser do the searching .....

I know a couple of folks who have properties in this private development, located near Galesburg, IL   Oak Run

I have skied/wakeboarded with them there on several occasions. On the plus side, very clean water. Cons, the usual weekend recreation boat traffic tears the lake up, some goofy lake rules.

Greg, I have a place in Lk James Estates 140 miles east of Lansing right down I -80 in Angola, In. Plenty of southsiders there as my neighborhood has people from Lansing,Thornton,Homewood,Chicago Heights,Schererville,Dyer,Crown Point,St. John,etc. Some places on the water, some lakeview,and most of them off the water with lake rights. Everyyhing from new homes to older trailers. Association owns about 600 ft of shoreline and uses it for docks, pavilion and swimming beach. Good fishing lake chain that is quiet on week days and busy on weekends. Pokagon State Park is there and owns a lot of shoreline. Hope you check it out. John.

levinmark wrote: I believe there is a 20ft limit, no wake boats.

Looks like I might have some summer trips to do, thanks everybody.

I always liked Koontz and Hudson lakes both are off the beaten path and less crowded. Have you tried Clinton lake? Its heated by a nuke plant but doesn't have any waterfront property.

Do you know if Hudson Lake has public access? I work for the South Shore and have passed it a few times, always wondered about it. As for Clinton Lake, in Illinois?

Hudson lake has a nice ramp behind the restaurant as you get there. Clinton has many access ramps we usually stayed at the state camp ground and launched there. The warm side of the lake is open between April 1 and October 15 last year water temp was 77 degrees on April 2
and still in the mid 80s on October 15.

If you are in the lake James area, check out Crooked Lake. They are a half mile apart -not connected- but half as busy on weekends. It has 3 basins the 3rd is awesome for sking,boarding. They both are just off the I80 / I69 intersection. Steuben county has over 100 lakes . 2.5 hours from Chicago.