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Risto
Location:
Gaines Township, Michigan, 46 miles east of Lansing and 75 miles northwest of Detroit.
Specs:
The lake, a.k.a. Barefooter's Paradise because of its length and glassy conditions, measures 2,400 feet long; it's 300 feet wide at its widest point; and it covers more than 13.5 acres, varying between 13 and 15 feet deep.
What!? My name is:
Digging the lake out of a farmer's cornfield on 40 acres of land six years ago, owners Jeff and Patti Smith named it using the first few letters of each of their names and that of their 18-year-old daughter Whitney.
Eternal Sunshine on a Spotless Lake:
The 100-foot-tall maple trees that line Lake Jepawhit's west side practically guarantee year-round glass. And skiers enjoy 24 hours of visibility per day due to the eight refurbished light poles from Eastern Michigan University's stadium that face the lake's west side.
Lake of Dreams:
Locals come out each summer to enjoy the Lake Jepawhit Extreme Slalom and Hyperlite Wakeboard tournaments. Andy Mapple and Chris Parrish have been seen here. You're invited to fly in also. Just use the airstrip that runs along the side of the lake. “Jeff keeps his 1956 J-3 Cub on tundra tires and floats in the hangar by the strip,” Patti Smith says. “Next to barefooting, he also loves to do barrel rolls in the air.”
Fun and Games:
To get families and kids more involved, the Smiths built an aquatic play area on the lake's east side, complete with water trampoline, aqua bobber and a device called “The Blob.”
“A person jumps off a tower onto a big pillow that catapults another person onto the lake,” says Patti. “The whole area's been a great success, giving kids something to do while mom and dad are out competing.”
Lake O' Landmarks:
One particular pole on the lake was refurbished from the Mackinac Bridge built in 1957, the world's longest freestanding bridge. “We display an American flag on this pole,” says Patti. “The flag was flown from a helicopter in Iraq two years ago.”
Skiing There:
Sorry, Silver Ski Lake Club members only. But any experienced skier looking for a test drive should contact Jeff or Patti at their shop, Silver Spray Sports. Call 810-629-6370 or visit silverspraysports.com
