Waterfront living and recreation at Heritage Lake
The private Heritage Lake community offers architecturally unique homes, abundant nature and an engaged community, all along the namesake 320-acre lake. “It’s got beautiful hiking and biking trails and a restaurant that was just freshly put in at the marina. You can pull up, park your boat and let the kids play on the playground,” says Stephanie Feltner, a Realtor and broker with Prime Real Estate Group with more than eight years of experience. “It’s community-based with a lot of activities. We tend to have a lot of permanent residents, but there are secondary homeowners,” Feltner says, pointing to the mix of retirees and families. The area also has a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
A variety of housing styles and prices
Set against rolling hills and wooded streets, new homes started going up around Heritage Lake in the 1970s, and construction continues today. The varied architectural styles include New Traditionals, A-frames, log cabins, Craftsman-inspired builds and ranch-style homes. No matter the style, buyers can expect attached two-car garages, green lawns and large lots, some up to an acre. “The lots aren’t as ample as they once were. There’s been a lot of building in the past couple of years,” Feltner says. Most homes cost between $200,000 and $400,000, but larger renovated homes or properties with bigger lots can sell for $500,000 to $700,000. Waterfront estates with private docks can range from roughly $600,000 to $1.3 million. The community also has $300 annual HOA fees. “The market is always busy. There’s always someone buying, selling or building,” Feltner says. “You’ll see homes for sale, but they don’t stay on the market for long.”
Beaches, pickleball and playgrounds add to outdoor appeal
The private lake is the highlight of the community and a prime spot for fishing, boating, swimming and water sports. “The lake is private and they do check IDs and homeowners association membership cards, so it is monitored,” Feltner says. “It’s always busy with boats on the weekend.” Homeowners enjoy access to community beaches, tennis and pickleball courts, playgrounds and a clubhouse. Residents can purchase passes to the community pool. Nature abounds in the region, with trails and wildlife viewing at Big Walnut Nature Preserve and McCloud Nature Park a few miles away. For city entertainment, locals can drive about an hour into Indianapolis.
College credit at North Putnam Community Schools
Students can attend North Putnam Community Schools, which receive an overall B grade from Niche. Bainbridge Elementary School, rated B-plus, is about 10 miles away in Bainbridge. North Putnam Middle School, rated B, and North Putnam High School, rated B-minus, are both about 10 miles away in Roachdale. The Area 30 Career Center in Greencastle serves upperclassmen from five area school districts, offering college credit and industry certificates in fields like graphic design, advanced manufacturing and education.
Sahm’s Haven offers barbecue, brews and coffee cake
Sahm’s Haven is a new addition to the community. An offshoot of Sahm’s Restaurant in Fishers, the bar and eatery serves up barbecue, cold beer from its own brewing company and Sahm’s signature coffee cake. A few miles north, Anthony’s Pizza serves New York slices, calzones and pepperoni-stuffed breadsticks. Dollar General has essentials about 7 miles away, but most residents head to Greencastle or Danville for groceries, both about 15 miles away.
Easy access to nearby highways
U.S. Route 36 is just north of Heritage Lake, and I-70 and I-74 are about 20 miles away. Medical care is available at Hendricks Regional Health in Danville, about 15 miles away, and it's a 30-mile drive to Indianapolis and Indianapolis International Airport. There’s little to no traffic in Heritage Lake, but there are also no sidewalks on its winding roads. Some residents prefer to get around via golf cart.
Concerts, fireworks and fishing tournaments on the lake
The Heritage Lake Property Owners Association hosts events throughout the year, including fishing tournaments from May through October, an Easter Egg hunt and fireworks over the lake during the Fourth of July. “They do a lot of summer activities,” Feltner says. “They’ve got music that goes on at the beach at the clubhouse, and a lot of people turn up for that.”
Written By
Leslie Klosterman
