The History of Packanack Lake

The Packanack community began long ago when Native Americans farmed, fished and hunted in the area. One tribe, the Pacquanacs, are still remembered in the very name Packanack which is said to mean appropriately "land made clear for cultivation".
In 1780, it was farming country and marshlands not far from the Continental Army encampment of French and American soldiers.
The Packanack area sits on two ridges running in roughly a north-south direction separated by a valley of marshland that in 1928 would be cleared of trees and brush; blocked at the south with an earth and clay dam to form Packanack Lake. That was in 1925 when 26 farms or approximately 700 acres of these ridges and valley was purchased. It began laying the foundation for the development of a community. The lake itself is man-made. Roads were built, water and sewer mains were laid and a sewage disposal system constructed. The real estate firm of Packanack Lake, Inc. was formed and work began on the clubhouse as well as seventeen log cabins and small Cape Cod homes. The clubhouse, which was renovated in 2005, is located on the west beach along with a post office, restaurant, pub, florist, and a deli.
During the early 1930’s up to the mid-1940’s Packanack had its own horse riding academy. Riding trails existed throughout the lake including both sides of the peninsula, the dam, Hess Field and various infrequently used roads.