The original Lewistown Reservoir was created by manually excavating and building approximately 3 miles of earthen dam in several areas and joining seven natural lakes and large ponds. The largest stretch of this structure lies along the lake between Russells Point, Lakeview, and the Blackhawk area, now known as the bike path. Constructing the reservoir produced an irregular shoreline and many islands, which before the lake was formed were simply areas of higher ground. Around the lake, distinct areas of development emerged, each with its own character and history, including Orchard and Wolf Islands, which were originally not connected to the mainland, as well as Chippewa, Avondale, Turkeyfoot, Sassafras Point, O’Connor’s Point, Long Island, and Waterbury. Indian Isles is a string of islands permanently connected by bridges that includes Lake Ridge, Shawnee, Seminole, Sunset, Crantown, Pew, Miami, Tecumseh, and Minnewauken. Many islands are named in honor of Indian tribes that dominated the area in earlier times. Other islands, including Crystal Beach, Turtle Shell, Big Walnut, Oak Island, and Bellefontaine Island, can only be accessed by water but still have permanent summer homes. Crystal Beach Island was once owned by Roscoe Ails, the famous Broadway comedian, who used the secluded retreat for personal physical training and relaxation during the summer months, and it is also rumored that Jack Dempsey once trained there. The entire lake is a State Park, with the State of Ohio controlling much of the shoreline. Beach facilities at Fox Island, Old Field Island, and the state campground at Chippewa were constructed as part of Indian Lake State Park, and on weekends many visitors use these beaches while boaters also anchor at natural sandy "swimming holes" on the west side of many islands in waist-deep water.