After two years of cleaning up their family’s property north of Iola, the descendants of the late Marvin Boyer have taken huge steps in restoring the grounds to their previous splendor.
Siblings Karlea, Cassandra and Ethan Boyer, their mother Carrie and her fiancé Kerry Simpson have cleaned up the southern half of the lake property, to the point they’re able to open lake access to the public.
Boyer’s Lake officially opened its doors earlier this month, just in time for an Independence Day celebration Friday and Saturday.
The centerpiece is a two-day fishing derby, and a chance at a $500 grand prize.
On top of that, several food vendors will set up shop, while visitors can partake in camping, and a petting zoo. RV parking is available, and several fire pits have been set up as well.
And while competitors must be 16 or older to vie for the fishing derby’s prize, folks of all ages can cast their lines for leisurely fishing as well.
“We’ve really worked our tails off out there, and we still have a long way to go,” Karlea Boyer said. “But we’ve gotten far enough we wanted to share what we’ve done with the community.”
Registration fees for the fishing derby are $25 in advance, or $30 on the day of the event. General admission otherwise is $5 per person. Children 4 and under are admitted free of charge.
Marvin Boyer hand-dug the lake on 130 acres of land just north of Oregon Road and west of 1400 Street (State Street) more than 50 years ago, and stocked it with a variety of species of bass, catfish and crappie. On top of that, he also brought in a variety of exotic animals, including ostriches, parrots and even a zebra donkey.
After the elder Boyer died, the property sat quiet for the next 24 years, as the carefully maintained grounds eventually became overgrown with trees and unkempt vegetation. And while the animals are long gone, the lake remains a prime fishing spot.
When Marvin’s son Robin died in 2024, and the property was passed on to the Boyer children, they quickly realized the grounds were something of a hidden jewel in Allen County.
After nearly 30 months of extensive cleanup and restoration, Boyer’s Lake is back.
“We’ve been hustling, doing everything ourselves,” Karlea noted. “I’ve learned not only how to drive a tractor, but fix a tractor, too. I’ve been keeping up with all of the mowing.”
Things were shaping up perfectly for a grand opening, until Mother Nature decided to open the floodgates earlier this month.
With more than 10 inches of rain falling in June alone — including 16 days of measurable precipitation over a 19-day stretch — the carefully maintained grassland soon became a super-saturated wetlands.
“We’re not sure if it’s gonna dry up enough by Friday,” Karlea said.
