What is now known as Chippewa Lake was carved from the wilderness over 12,000 years ago by glaciers. The 385-acre oval that remains is the largest natural lake within Ohio. Its name comes from the Chippewa tribe, known around the shores of the Great Lakes as great fishermen. The lake is spring-fed by Chippewa Creek, which continues to flow south through Wayne County on its way to the Ohio River.

The first recorded private ownership of the lake and surrounding property is from 1825 when Samuel Fowler obtained a grant of a large tract from the state of Connecticut, which owned the entire Western Reserve at the time. As was the case for much of the Midwest, the area was heavily wooded with a wide variety of trees.

By the late 1800s, farmers had found their way around the lake, which also became recognized as a pleasant vacation spot. The Village of Chippewa-on-the-Lake was laid out in 1873, and before the end of that century the Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling Railroad built a track to the lakeshore to transport blocks of ice cut out during the winter.

In 1875, E. E. Andres, a druggist from Seville, Ohio purchased land at Chippewa Lake to fulfill his vision of a small summer resort. That which was born would become known as Chippewa Lake Park.

The Townsend family was prominent in the Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling railroad company, which later became part of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. They came to Chippewa Lake in their private rail car and decided to purchase the Robb farm and additional acreage around the lake. The family built many of the buildings on the lake and around Chippewa Lake Park. Oscar Townsend remodeled the old farmhouse and created the estate which is now The Oaks Lakeside Restaurant. He named it Five Oaks because of the five oaks which stood in a semi-circle on the front lawn facing the lake. Townsend added a barn, a carriage house, a boathouse, and formal gardens. His portico with concrete latticed roof supported by thirty-six stately columns remains today. He collected stones from around the world for the two fireplaces still enjoyed by the patrons of The Oaks Lodge on a cold winter evening.

The estate was completed around 1914 and was a showplace for Medina County. It became a standard for hospitality and gracious living, and played host to the rich and famous of the day. The area was booming and the Park thrived, aided by the Cleveland & Southwestern Interurban Line whose tracks ran right to the Park's edge. A round trip ticket from Cleveland to Chippewa Lake on the electric train cost fifty cents. The biggest names in entertainment of that era were frequently featured at Chippewa Lake Park.

Mr. Townsend lived only a few years after completing his lakeside retreat, and Five Oaks passed through many other owners and uses. The estate had been operated as a country restaurant and bar for some time when it was purchased in 1961 by Don Casper and Al Hitchins. They began the evolution of The Oaks Lodge into a fine dining establishment. Don cooked and Al tended bar and together they developed a large network of customers whom they preferred to call their friends. They outlasted the Chippewa Lake Park, which closed its doors in 1978.

Al died on October 25, 1986, and Don continued as the owner until his death on July 23, 2003. Upon Don's death, ownership passed to his three nieces, Bonnie Casper Drushal, Cheryl Casper Iaquinta, and Holli Stille Boylan. Today, Bonnie serves as CEO and Johnny Pollizi serves as President and General Manager of all business operations. It is the family's intent to continue The Oaks Lakeside's wonderful legacy of gracious hospitality and its tradition of excellence in casual fine dining for many years to come.