Tomahawk Lake celebrates 65th anniversary

SPARTA — Tomahawk Lake Water Park is celebrating its 65th year, entertaining families since 1952. Developed on a rundown potato farm in the 1950’s, a 20 acre lake was created by damming Lubbers Run creek to start Tomahawk Lake, a private swimming and picnic club. During construction, an Indian tomahawk was dug up and the shape of the lake was created into a tomahawk , thus came the name “Tomahawk Lake." Unable to survive as a private “Club Plan”, with the cost of season passes starting at only $1.00 each, the property was sold to Chester Wallace, a New Jersey attorney.
With his entrepreneurial ability and vision, Wallace opened the park to the public in the 1970’s and began building waterslides into the hilly terrain on the side of the lake, creating a mountain of waterslides, many of which exit into the lake being one of few waterparks in the country that use lake water to operate the slides. In keeping with the Indian culture in the area, an Indian theme prevails throughout the park. The mountain of waterslides include the newest of our slides “The Apache Plunge” finished in 2010 is a 610 foot mammoth flume raft ride for 4 people, along with our first slide “Sitting Bull,“ a serpentine double flume body slide which exits into a 3 ½ ft chlorinated pool and “Crazy Horse” racing slide which are all blue slides for those novice swimmers at least 45 inches tall. In addition to those slides swimmers over 4 feet tall can ride all slides with an unlimited waterslide pass to also include : “Black Snake”, an enclosed 503 ft tunnel slide and “Rocky Mountain” 512 foot serpentine slide for single or double tubes;” Sioux-a- Slide” ,a 400 ft speed slide runs straight into the lake 6-8ft deep., and “Geronimo”, a coaster ride with a sled that slides across the lake into 8 feet of water. The “Papoose Land“, free to children under 4 feet tall has many attractions including a huge fish slide and an Indian canoe shower with an Indian designed inflatable to go along with the kiddie water slides, 21ft rubber log snake, giant turtles & frogs, lily pads, alligators and raining mushroom! Our “Cherokee Corner” for children under 5 feet tall featuring our tipping bucket, an Indian canoe shower, lily pads and a water trampoline. Paddle boats, canopy boats and kiddie bumper boats have been added to our fleet of swan, duck, blue heron, bumper, rowboats along with our “Gitchie Gumee”, 20 passenger paddle wheeler. We have many picnic tables in the numerous picnic areas located throughout the park surrounding the crystal clear lake and New Jersey’s largest inland white sand beach. Other amenities include the 18 hole miniature golf course, “Trading Post” souvenir stop, “Ice Cream Heaven”, Snack Bar and an outdoor beer garden with music on weekends. Tomahawk Lake Waterpark is the host to many group functions, big & small from corporations to birthday parties, church groups & family reunions. We offer our Old Fashioned Country Picnic package which we cater your picnic under large red and white circus tents with our “All You Can Eat Menu”. If you prefer to do the work yourself we reserve many picnic areas available for groups.
Tomahawk Lake Waterpark has grown to be a popular tourist and recreational stop specializing in family fun. Guests travel miles to enjoy a day at one of Sussex County’s “Best kept secrets”located in Byram, Hopatcong and Sparta Townships. Chester has since passed away at the age of 92, leaving his wife, June now over 90 years old to discuss the daily operations with her children, Wendy, Mark and Lynne who continue to run and improve the waterpark.
Tomahawk Lake Waterpark is located at 155 Tomahawk Trail, Sparta,NJ .For information call 973-398-7777 or visit our website at www.tomahawklake.com