The Lighthouse: Making Cedar Lake a destination

Beginning late afternoon on any given day, a procession of vehicles begins to form on its way to Constitution Avenue in Cedar Lake where the Lighthouse Restaurant, nestled snugly against the shoreline of the town's namesake lake, has been luring people from near and far to its doors.

Wrapped in windows overlooking an always splendid, and sometimes breathtaking view, The Lighthouse has been drawing customers from as far away as Lafayette, South Bend, nearby Illinois and Michigan since opening April 6. Its popularity shining a light on the town's resurgence as a resort community.

Cedar Lake has become a destination again - thanks in large part to the restaurant and banquet hall.

In the earlier decades of the 1900s, visitors flocked to the summertime pleasures of Cedar Lake, including the Midway Ballroom which played host to the big music names of the day such as the bands of Tommy Dorsey, Les Brown and Glen Miller and, later, big-name rock and rollers.

Chuckling at his desk, Bill Wellman admits to fond memories of good times spent at the old lakeside ballroom, but adds slyly that none are for print.

The vice-president of communications for Whiteco Industries and part owner of the restaurant, Wellman recently celebrated his 85th birthday in The Lighthouse's second floor banquet space that serves up to 200 people. The view, he said, is spectacular. "There's a sign out front on the patio that I had made --- 'Please hold your applause until the sun sets.' It's starting to become a tradition," he said.

Whiteco's CEO Dean White, principal owner, gave birth to plans for the restaurant that features an expansive patio along the lake. He, too, recalls the days when Cedar Lake was bustling and said it's where he went for fun, especially during the summertime.

"It was Mr. White's plan to give back to the community. He hadn't planned it as a moneymaker. He just wanted to have some fun," Wellman said.

"Eighteen days in front of our opening, Mr. White said, 'We are going to have sizzle on those steaks, aren't we?' We had to hustle to get that done," Wellman said, noting that each steak is delivered sizzling to the table thanks to an extended hood and a high temperature broiler.

Everyone, including White, seems to be having fun as the Lighthouse, the Sunset Harbor Condominiums and The Moorings planned housing development on the lakeshore south of the restaurant continue to change the lake's landscape and beckon new visitors to the town's boundaries.

Sunset Harbor and The Moorings are projects of WPM Construction, Merrillville, of which White is a principal.

Beside a restaurant that many say is on a par with Chicago's best eateries, The Lighthouse has brought added jobs and tax support to the town, Wellman is quick to note.

What do residents think? When Pat King Casassa returned to Cedar Lake five years ago after a 30-year absence, she was struck by the town's vitality. "It's coming back alive," she said, pointing to the Lighthouse, the condos, newly-paved streets and lake improvements.

"I was just teased today about Cedartucky," Casassa, daughter of town founder Dr. Robert King, said of the unflattering name tag given by some to the town in the past, adding, "It's not Cedartucky anymore. We've come a long way."

"Happy George," aka George Geimer-Wessler of Happy George's Coffeehouse, 13134 Lakeshore Drive, agrees, saying the town is on the upswing, and he's along for the ride. The sign at his storefront reads, "Welcome to Paradise."

"We opened about 10 weeks ago. It seems like everything is picking up here, and the town is caring for the community more," Geimer-Wessler said. "We definitely get a lot of walk-ins. We plan to stay open all year."

"Happy George's" benefits from the Sunset Harbor Condominiums that hug the shoreline south of the coffeehouse, he said. The development, including new business along 133rd Street, is feeding a growing economy and drawing visitors to the lake that is Indiana's second largest natural lake.

The restaurant's banquet facilities, host to this year's Cedar Lake Chamber of Commerce annual dinner, is providing a modern facility for wedding receptions, anniversary parties and the like.

With only three of the 62 Sunset Harbor units yet unsold, Peter Ruffing of WPM said such success in less than three years speaks well not only of the high quality, lakefront living possible there, but also of the community itself.

"It's fun to be a part of it all," Ruffing said, pointing to the town's "Symphony in the Park," art shows and physical improvements undertaken by local business owners.

A notable improvement is the east entry into the town on 133rd Avenue, which ends at Morse Street, Sunset Harbor and the lake.

The pretty pastels of the condo buildings jut upward against the backdrop of the lake in a pleasing view created by the principals of WPM whose land plan moved the condo buildings apart to allow a view through to the water.

The east entry was made even more alluring after the town's project at the intersection beautified the space with new paving, bricks, special lighting and planters, all part of a plan orchestrated by the town council.

"I think this is just the leading edge," Ruffing, an Indianapolis transplant, said, adding, "Over the next four years, there will be 99 more condos. It makes sense that commercial will follow."

And should the South Shore rail extension reach Cedar Lake, the resort community of the past - much like Lake Geneva, Wis. - may be seen again as The Lighthouse becomes even more of a destination.

Want to learn more about The Lighthouse with lovely photos, its menu and the banquet facilities, go online to cedarlakelighthouse.com.

Next, stop online at cedarlakein.org for the community's intriguing history, its plans for the future, and more.

And if the allure of lake life is beckoning, go to themooringsoncedarlake.com to learn about the newest, east side development where condos, attached villas with walk-out basements are planned.



POSTED - 08/07/2009 12:45