The Lighthouse: Making Cedar Lake a destination
Beginning late afternoon on any given day, a procession of vehicles begins to form on its way to Constitution Avenue in Cedar Lake where the Lighthouse Restaurant, nestled snugly against the shoreline of the town's namesake lake, has been luring people from near and far to its doors.
Wrapped in windows overlooking an always splendid, and sometimes breathtaking view, The Lighthouse has been drawing customers from as far away as Lafayette, South Bend, nearby Illinois and Michigan since opening April 6. Its popularity shining a light on the town's resurgence as a resort community.
Cedar Lake has become a destination again - thanks in large part to the restaurant and banquet hall.
In the earlier decades of the 1900s, visitors flocked to the summertime pleasures of Cedar Lake, including the Midway Ballroom which played host to the big music names of the day such as the bands of Tommy Dorsey, Les Brown and Glen Miller and, later, big-name rock and rollers.
Chuckling at his desk, Bill Wellman admits to fond memories of good times spent at the old lakeside ballroom, but adds slyly that none are for print.
The vice-president of communications for Whiteco Industries and part owner of the restaurant, Wellman recently celebrated his 85th birthday in The Lighthouse's second floor banquet space that serves up to 200 people. The view, he said, is spectacular. "There's a sign out front on the patio that I had made --- 'Please hold your applause until the sun sets.' It's starting to become a tradition," he said.
Just a few opportunities remain to enjoy luxurious lakefront living
Nestled on a private beach with lake access, Sunset Harbor in Cedar Lake recently announced that there are just five remaining new construction condominium homes in this hugely successful development that has seen 57 sales in less than three years.
"Considering the economy and state of home building in general, the fact that we're now down to our last five homes is hard to believe," Peter Ruffing, director of residential sales and marketing for the Merrillville-based developer says. "But what's truly amazing is how many people have a connection to Cedar Lake. We've met so many people from all over the local area who enjoy sharing their own personal historic links to Cedar Lake. They are all so pleased to see the community reawakening itself to the resort area it once was."
Historically, Cedar Lake, which is near the junction of US Routes 41
and 231, just west of I-65 and south of I-94, has been referred to as
the "Garden Spot of Lake County." The town's namesake 805-acre spring
fed lake features more than 7 miles of shoreline and is an unparalleled
Northwest Indiana paradise for recreational pursuits, including boating,
water skiing and swimming. 
The condominiums at Sunset Harbor were developed to compliment what Mother Nature has provided Cedar Lake.
Located on the east side of Cedar Lake at the corner of 133rd and Morse, Sunset Harbor is adorned with bright, complimentary colors and nautical enhancements. This appealing resort-style development of elegant lakefront condominium homes caters to the lifestyles of both weekend and permanent residents.