best lake to buy on within 3 hours of pittsburgh? (Erie: homes, camps)

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by guy2073

I don't know if you necessarily have to be in the institute, there are a lot of nice towns on the lake with more reasonable prices

Exactly this. I wouldn’t want to be in the Institute as imo it’s too busy up until Labor Day. Also imo, there are much better options on the water all around the lake.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by lina4

Thank you for all the info. Will look at Chautauqua for sure. Does anyone have any input on the homes and area of treasure Lake PA?

I don’t but I would also look at Cheat Lake as an option. Would be my second choice after Chautauqua.

[Copanut]

You can actually buy a 365 square foot, 1 br condo in the Institution for 120K! There are many options outside those gates all around the lake. The problem is price, unless you go the condo route. Little factoid: The Institution's grounds is assessed at 1 Billion dollars, the entire City of Buffalo is 3 Billion. The locals really benefit from that tax base.


I'm fortunate to own a little condo on the eastern side of the lake, love that area. A lot of local, non-chain bars and restaurants. Right now the big push is getting all homes on public sewage. The so-called septic systems on a lot of the homes are dumping right into the lake. The one negative for a lot of boaters is the "sea grass" that clogs up rotors. It's a pita if you're on a jet-ski, constantly diving down to clear it out. Bemus point is a great little Leave it to Beaver town with concerts in the park, ice cream stands, bars & restaurants.


From the Great White North it's 161 miles of mostly interstate driving, a walk in the park.

[lina4]

I have seen houses that interests me in treasure lake PA. Does anyone have any info or OP on the area?

[Twenty Years in the Burgh]

Perhaps I'm a bit prejudiced having grown up with this as my local lake, but unless you're looking for a golf course-type or a gated community, you should really check out Tappan Lake, which is in Harrison County, Ohio. It's great for fishing, water skiing, tubing and general boating, has a beach, a marina plus a public boat launch just down the road from it, several wonderful trails and there are plenty of houses right on the lake with private docks. Depending upon where you're at in the Pittsburgh area, it's also quite likely the closest lake to where you live. I live northwest of the city and can be at the lake under an hour. The lake is part of a series of lakes in the Muskingum Watershed that were constructed in the '30s as a part of an ongoing flood control project. All of the lakes are well under three hours from Pittsburgh proper, so if Tappan doesn't do it for you in terms of amenities or homes that appeal to you, one of the other lakes just might.

[CRWMSPPGH]

Cheat Lake and Stonewall Resort in Roanoke WV are both awesome and have a lot of people doing the same thing you are

[SlurmsMcKenzie]

How about Cheat Lake near Morgantown? Looks pretty from 68.

[robrobrob]

If you want to rent it out then look at Deep Creek. Not sure about Treasure Lake rentals.

[PreservationPioneer]

No recommendations for Lake Erie?

[guy2073]

Originally Posted by PreservationPioneer

No recommendations for Lake Erie?

I spend a lot of time in Erie, I don't see many waterfront properties. That is why I didn't recommend it.