This seven-acre, man-made lake was created in the 1750s to power the iron works once located at the lower end. It is fed by about 30 natural springs clustered behind the tavern and at the upper end of the lake, with a daily output of approximately 22 million gallons of 53-degree water surging from underground streams some 1800 feet below the surface. Early settlers named the area Boiling Springs because of the bubbling water. The lake's beauty attracted generations of visitors to its shores. Cary Ahl, owner of the iron works, built the first stone wall and planted trees around the lake in 1872. The village overlooking the scenic lake was founded in 1845. From 1895 to 1930, a popular trolley park on the east side was enjoyed by thousands of visitors. In 1987, the lake was purchased by a partnership of interested parties who wanted to maintain public access. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission owns the lake, the National Park Service owns the cottage and an acre of ground on the east side, and the Boiling Springs Civic Association landscapes and maintains the grounds using funds from the Children's Lake Appalachian Trail Trust.