German immigrant August C. Burmeister built the dam to provide a source of power for his Redwood Falls Roller Mill. In so doing, he also created a popular recreation area immediately upriver of the scenic falls in Ramsey Park.

There was a public swimming beach at the city’s park on the lake. And for many years, a water slide on the river bluff allowed swimmers to reach the lake with a splash.

The lake was dredged in 2022 to restore the lake to it’s original depth to welcome boating, kayaking, fishing, and skating and ice fishing in the winter months.