Mineral Springs Lake Resort

History

Mineral Springs Lake Resort is built on land that has been farmed by the Smalley family for several generations.  It continues to be a family owned and operated business.  Over the years it has produced a variety of crops ranging from tobacco, corn, wheat, cattle, and hay.  Our descendants were some of the first to settle in Adams County.  They hunted and farmed this area, especially in the “bottoms”, the area where the lake occupies today.  The “bottoms” were fed by many natural springs that ran year round, and are still running today.

Billy Lee Smalley purchased the family farm from his parents in 1963 and moved his family there the same year.  He then purchased surrounding property acquiring over 600 acres.  This began his dream of building a lake in the “bottoms” area.  The elevation of the surrounding hills accompanied with bottom land makes this an ideal place for a lake.  In the early 1970’s, Billy Lee, his wife, and four kids began to construct Mineral Springs Lake Resort.  The resort is named for the many natural springs feeding the lake, as well as the former Mineral Springs Resort, which was located just a few miles down the road in the late 1800’s.  Mineral Springs Lake Resort opened for business on April 1, 1973. 

Mineral Springs Lake Resort is a recreational business consisting of a 100+ acre lake that is approximately 56 feet deep near the dam with an average depth of 27 feet,  5 ½ miles of shore line, and 500 acres of surrounding land.  It is fed by 16 major springs with numerous wet weather springs totaling approximately 30 springs.  The largest of the 12 under-water springs is known as Smalley Spring.  There is also Camp Hollow Spring, Tracy Spring, Graham Spring, and Matheny  Spring.  A large sulphur spring also flows into the lake.  Billy Lee’s father, Everett Smalley, as well as many of the “old timers”, used to go to this spring to fill their water jugs to use for drinking water because of the belief it was good for them. 

To share and expand his dream, Billy Lee has brought his children into the business to work with him.  The family is working to build an even greater, more prosperous business that will become a well-known and respected fabulous campground and recreational facility within Adams county and all of the Midwest.

Part of the expansion work for 2007 includes updating the current sewage system from 83 to 250 sewage outlets, with up to 440 sewage outlets possible.  This will allow additional 3-way hookup campsites, new bathroom and shower facilities, new cabins, and eventually a new office and store.