LAKEVIEW, Ohio — It’s been nearly six months since a devastating EF-3 tornado ripped through Indian Lake.

What You Need To Know

  • Indian Lake is still recovering from an EF-3 tornado in March 

  • The President of the Indian Lake Area Chamber of Commerce said they have thousands in town on holiday weekends 

  • They're still in the rebuild phase and say the community is more united than ever 

The community in Logan County is still in the process of rebuilding, but despite it all, the small lakeside town was still a popular destination for the holiday weekend.

With winds that topped 150 miles per hour, the EF-3 Tornado that tore through a 30-mile stretch of Auglaize and Logan counties in mid-March left a mark like this community had never seen before.

But in the aftermath of the storm, Owner of Froggy’s at the Lake Ross Jenkins said that’s when this community’s resilience shined the brightest.

“I think this area is one of a kind, growing up it’s always been a team and it’s always been a tight knit community, so I think this really kind of focused it and displayed what we’ve always been about in a small town,” said Jenkins.

Froggy’s is a popular bar and restaurant that he says brings in a big crowd on holiday weekends. 

“Labor Day weekend is always extra special for us here at Indian lake. We go out for all the holidays,” said Amber Fagan, president of the Indian Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

Jenkins said he was fortunate to not suffer the worst of the damage, which gave him the chance to host fundraisers, raising $12,000 to give back to the community’s churches following the tragedy. 

“I think we got lucky compared to the other side of the lake so I think mostly we’re back to normal we’re still feeling for those people on the other side of the lake that aren’t back to normal and might not ever be back to normal but overall, the campground on this side that we kind of drive they’re all good and we’re business as normal,” Fagan said.

Fagan said they bring in thousands of people during the summer, and especially the holiday weekends.

Fagan said they have a special tradition each Labor Day weekend called the “ring of fire” where everyone on the lake lights up a red flare. 

“We bring in thousands of thousands of extra visitors each weekend and then on the holiday weekends that’s even more,” Fagan said.

Meanwhile, Fagan said that following the tornado, their community is more United than ever. 

“… we’re in the rebuild phase and Indian lakes coming back more beautiful and vibrant,” Fagan said.