Sumava Resorts, Indiana


Sumava Resorts is an unincorporated community in Lake Township, Newton [County, Indiana|Lake Township], Newton County, in the U.S. state of Indiana.

History

Sumava Resorts was laid out in 1926. A post office has been in operation at the community since 1928. A group of Czech immigrants from Chicago formed the Sumava Forest Resorts Inc. It was named for the Bohemian Forest, which in the Czech Republic is called the Šumava Forest.
The resort became a weekend and summer resort for the Chicago community. Special trains would bring the city folks out to Sumava and return each weekend. Lukes' Restaurant & Tavern on County Road N 250 W became the center of activities, with guests dining on duck, roast chicken, dumplings and kraut.
The community's location along the Kankakee River meant that it has been plaqued by flooding. Major floods occurred in 1950, 1967, and 1976. A levee break in 1993 brought national attention to the community. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designed and constructed a $7 million dike around the community, ending the annual risk of flooding.

Demographics

The United States Census Bureau defined Sumava Resorts as a census designated place in the 2022 American Community Survey.