09/22/2026
To Our Cowan Lake Marina Family,
For the last 41 years — since 1985 — we've had the privilege of serving as your marina concessionaire at Cowan Lake State Park. Our families heritage actually dates back to the late 1960's when Tom Taylor began working at Cowan Lake as a teenager in High School That relationship has meant everything to us, and it's exactly why we owe you a direct, honest conversation about what's coming.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has secured significant capital funding to finally make major improvements to Cowan Lake. Two projects are moving forward: a spillway project and, following that, a new marina facility. This is investment the lake has needed for a long time, and in the long run, it's good news. But getting there is going to require real sacrifice from all of us who love this lake, and we want you to hear the details from us, plainly, rather than piece by piece through rumor.
The Spillway Project — Starting Immediately
The spillway work is the most urgent of the two, driven by dam safety concerns and the age of the lake's drain valve system. Because of that, it cannot wait.
• Beginning November 1, ODNR will open the lake valve and begin drawing the lake down at a rate of approximately 2 feet per week.
• The lake will be lowered until it reaches 13 feet below summer pool.
• At that level, the lake will be unusable for boating. Docks will be sitting on dry ground, and none of the launch ramps will be accessible.
• Given the scope of this project, the lake is expected to remain at this lowered level through the entire 2027 season.
• ODNR's stated goal is to return the lake to normal pool by 2028. However, based on our experience with projects of this size, timelines like this are always subject to construction progress and weather. We want to be candid with you: it is possible the drawdown could extend into part of the 2028 season as well but we hope not.
The Marina Project
Separately, our concession contract with ODNR — which has been in place since 1985 — reached its end this year. Because the marina building itself is going to be torn down and rebuilt, ODNR has made the decision not to enter into a new operating contract at this time. It is still unclear when the marina operation will be back to a useable status.
Here is what we know about the new facility so far:
• The current marina building will be demolished and replaced.
• New docks will be installed, replacing the docks we currently own.
• A new retaining wall is planned.
• New public restrooms will be built.
• Public water service will be brought to the marina
What we don't know yet is the full scope or timeline of the marina rebuild itself — those details haven't been finalized, and ODNR states they will share them once they are finalized.
We know this is hard news. The idea of the lake being inaccessible for a full season or more is unsettling, especially for those of you who have kept boats there for years, some of you for decades. We don't take that lightly, and we're not going to pretend this is a minor inconvenience. It isn't. We are heartbroken to have to step aside in such a rapid pace right now but we do understand it is for the betterment of the lake itself. We are in a bit of a race against the clock so we thank each of our dock holders for working with us as we prepare to vacate the marina and prep for the permanent drawdown. We have a lot of work to do. We are very thankful for our partnership with ODNR over the last 41 years and we are grateful this investment is finally happening as the dam and the marina are in much need of repair and overhaul. We are very excited to see the next chapter unfold for Cowan Lake State Park
We will be in touch as soon as we have more specific information, particularly regarding dock holder arrangements during the drawdown. In the meantime, please don't hesitate to reach out with questions.
Thank you for your patience, your loyalty, your business over the years and your understanding.
With gratitude,
The Taylor Family
