Orchard Island is an unincorporated community and residential and tourist area located in Washington and Stokes townships, Logan County, Ohio, United States. Although Orchard Island can only be accessed by road via Russells Point, most addresses on Orchard Island have a Lakeview ZIP Code (43331).
Location Orchard Island is part of an island chain which encompasses the southeastern shore of Indian Lake, north of Russells Point. Orchard being the largest, neighbor islands include Wolfe, Fox, Willow Bank, and Crystal Beach."Map Showing Development Areas at Indian Lake" , Indian Lake. Retrieved 26 April 2011 At times during the 20th century, Indian Lake was known as "Ohio's Million Dollar Playground.""Indian Lake" Cornelis van der Veen. Arcadia Publishing. 2019. p. 2, 21, 22, 45, 71, 105. Retrieved 2 July 2026 Broadway vaudeville actor Roscoe Ails bought Crystal Beach Island in 1925."Logan County History: Roscoe Ails", News Room. Peak of Ohio. August 25, 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2026
History
A popular resort island by the 1930s, investors opened a 100-room hotel, which would later become known as the Wicker Hotel and Resort,"Wicker Resort", Indian Lake Post Cards. Retrieved 2 July 2026 and dance hall in the early 20th century, which sprang up around the Crown Pavillion constructed around 1900."Orchard Island, Ohio", New Bremen Historic Association. Retrieved 30 June 2026 The first bridge to the island was constructed in 1901. Tennis courts were present on the island in its early development days.
During this time, the island was home for several assemblies of the intellectual Chautauqua movement beginning in 1910, similar to those occurring in New York. It was home to a Boys City Camp associated with the movement. Notable speakers on the variety circuit who visited the island, among entertainers such as the Bob Royce Orchestra,"Robert Royce", DAHR. Retrieved 30 June 2026 included William Jennings Bryan and Warren Harding."For Your Amusement", Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Spring 2000. Retrieved 26 April 2011
The pavilion was sold in 1923 to an Ohio corporation seeking to make the island a convention destination. The island, under the ownership of the Orchard Island Improvement Company, which traded on the stock market under the name Orchard Island, Inc., maintained the hotel before the island was eventually partitioned and sold to private individuals."Report", Ohio. Dept. of Health, Ohio. State Board of Health. 1913. Retrieved 26 April 2011 Purchased in 2000, the pavilion was restored over the next few years by the James F. Dicke Family, who demolished the remaining Wicker Hotel and Resort.
In the mid-1920s, the Orchard Island Sailing Club was formed by military contractor and inventor Louis Zerbee, eventually becoming the modern Indian Lake Yacht Club, which still exists today."Logan County history: Indian Lake Yacht Club", April King. Peak of Ohio. March 8, 2026. Retrieved 30 June 2026"Louis & Alfonso Zerbee", Mary Mortimer. Logan County History Center. Jul 11, 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2026
In the 1930s, Karl Stumpp built a 15-room hotel and resort called Shore Gables, which was demolished in the 1990s, and along with the hotel opened a grocery store.
In 2004, after 77 years, the United States Post Office reopened on the island."Orchard Island Post Office Rededication 2016", Indian Lake Area Historical Society. Youtube. Retrieved 2 July 2026
Today the island hosts the annual Orchard Island Golf Cart Parade,"Situated Between Columbus And Fort Wayne Is Ohio's Charming Island With Lakefront Fun", Ikam Acosta. Islands.com. November 22, 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2026 and island residents the DePasquale Family are known to appear on the lake in their Quandt Group"The Amphicar that President Lyndon Johnson Used to Prank People, 1960s", Rare Historical Photos. August 27, 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2026"1966 Quandt Group Amphicar", Legendary Motor Car. Retrieved 1 July 2026 West German-manufactured Amphicar."Orchard Island couple making big slash with Amphicar", Justin Miller. Urbana Daily Citizen. July 26, 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2026 They are longtime members of the International Amphicar Owners Club, headquartered on the island."International Amphicar Owners Club", Club Express. Retrieved 26 June 2026
2024 tornado The community of Orchard Island suffered a direct hit from a destructive tornado on March 14, 2024 at roughly 7:50PM Eastern Standard Time. Several other nearby communities were also impacted by this same long-track, considerable sized tornado, such as Russell's Point. As many as three fatalities and many injuries were reported as a result of the tornado, which was later identified by NWS damage survey teams as an EF-3.
Economy The island is home to several marinas and aquatic recreation establishments."Indian Lake Directory", Indian Lake. Retrieved 26 April 2011 Real estate accounts for a share of the economic activity, with many estates, chalets,"The Chalet", Resort Rentals Indian Lake. Retrieved 26 April 2011 and cottages serving as rental property for tourists during the peak summer season."Seasonal rentals", Indian Lake Area. Retrieved 26 April 2011
References
External links Orchard Island Aerial