Otsego Lake has long been admired by local residents for its beauty and has accumulated a rich association with romance, legend, and history. Its shores began attracting tourists in the 19th century, when the popularity of James Fenimore Cooper's novels helped lay the foundation for a strong tourism industry. Early preservationists, including the Clark family, and environmental groups helped protect the lake's natural features, allowing activities such as boating, fishing, and swimming to continue for both locals and visitors. Public access was limited before the 20th century, but in 1890 the Village of Cooperstown purchased Three Mile Point and opened it as a public park, followed by Fairy Spring Park and Lakefront Park. Features associated with the lake include Mount Wellington, known as the Sleeping Lion for its distinctive shape, the Glimmerglass Historic District created in 1999, and Kingfisher Tower, built by Edward Clark at Paint Judith in 1876 to beautify the lake and add an attraction.