If there is a place of mystery and intrigue on the shores of Lake Erie, Rattlesnake Island would be it. Everything about it is a mystery. How it got its name when this area is not known for rattlesnakes and the exclusive resort that sits on it are just a couple of curiosities.
Boaters that come too close to the island will quickly be shooed away by security.
Everything about this place is a mystery that has led to many false rumors.
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History
History tells us that rattlesnakes used to inhabit the island, which is where the name comes from. The shape of the island is also reminiscent of a rattlesnake’s head.
That is where the name came from, although it seems odd that rattlesnakes inhabited that island but nowhere else in the area.
Technically, Rattlesnake Island was part of the Firelands, as were all the Lake Erie Islands. However, the only island to see much use during the early 19th century was South Bass Island due to Put-In-Bay’s strategic location in Sandusky, Ohio.
Rattlesnake stayed dormant for quite a while and probably only served as a haven for fishermen.
By the mid-19th century, some of the local islands began to establish post offices, and Rattlesnake became a part of Put-in-bay township.
The dormant island changed when it was bought by Toledo businessman Hubert D. Bennett. Bennett built a lodge, harbor, and a landing strip for small aircraft.
The island again switched hands to James Frackelton in 1959. Frackelton and his associate Schull further developed the island but, due to harsh economic conditions, were forced to sell the island.
After the sale, the island became a private island. Frackelton and 65 investors re-purchased the island in 1999.
Today, everything is private and controlled by the island club.
Rattlesnake Island Rumors
Due to the privacy of the island, there have been many rumors about mobsters and other illegal activity on the island.
One of the current owners said that the rumors are false and were used to scare people away from the island during the winter months when the lake freezes and the island becomes accessible on foot.