About Chautauqua Lake

A Natural Glacial Beauty

Chautauqua Lake is located in southwestern New York and is only about six miles from Lake Erie.

The lake stretches from the city of Mayville to Jamestown with the cities of Bemus Point and Chautauqua in between.

The lake was formed during a glacial retreat at the end of the Ice Age. The three glacial pauses resulted in Chautauqua Lake being created in the form of two basins, each initially having some differing properties due to the characteristics of the two glacial retreats.

Extinct Tribe Language and English Settlements

Chautauqua Lake's name comes from the now-extinct Erie language. The Erie people were defeated in the Beaver Wars before their language could be studied, so the meaning remains unknown.

Settlement on Chautauqua Lake is believed to have begun in 1811 when James Prendergast founded an English settlement in Jamestown, located at the south end of the lake.

Lake Statistics

Chautauqua Lake is approximately 17 miles long and two miles wide at its greatest width. The lakeapos;s surface area is about 13,000 acres and the average depth of the lake is 25 feet.

At 1,308 feet above sea level, Chautauqua Lake is one of the highest navigable bodies of water in North America.

Chautauqua Lake's 41 miles of shoreline is composed of privately owned property, mostly being residences or neighborhoods.

There are about three total miles of public shoreline and two state parks which also have public lake access to the lake.

Lake Fun for Everyone

Chautauqua Lake has many attractions and outdoor activities for everyone to enjoy.

On of the most popular area attractions is the Chautauqua Institution. The Institution is a National Historic Landmark which was founded in 1874 as a camp for Sunday school teachers. Today, the summer programs are organized around arts, education, religion and recreation.

Chautauqua Lake is a popular destination for sailors, hosting weekend regattas and home to national sailing and rowing competitions. For recreational sailors, many public boat launches and marinas are available along Chautauqua's shoreline.

Fishing is abundant, as Chautauqua Lake offers bass, perch, pike and an array of different species, however, anglers flock to Chautauqua Lake for muskellunge, or muskie, which are native to the lake.

Home is Chautauqua Lake

Whether you are looking for a vacation home or your forever home, Chautauqua Lake offers something to please everyone!

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