Lake Mohawk NJ Guide: History, White Deer Plaza and Lake Access Rules

Lake Mohawk NJ is the private lake community in Sparta Township best known for White Deer Plaza, its Tudor style storefronts and the tiered boardwalk along the north shore. The lake itself is private, but the plaza, its shops and its restaurants are a popular stop for visitors from all over North Jersey.

This guide explains what Lake Mohawk is, how it was built in the 1920s, what you can and cannot do as a non member, and how to plan a visit to White Deer Plaza. For a broader look at the township, see our guide to things to do in Sparta, and for food see our Sparta and Lake Mohawk restaurant guide.

What Is Lake Mohawk?

Lake Mohawk is a man made lake and planned residential community at the headwaters of the Wallkill River. According to the historical marker at White Deer Plaza, the lake is about three and a half miles long and the community covers 2,300 acres. The lake covers roughly 800 acres, and NJ Skylands calls it the largest private artificial lake in New Jersey.

Lake Mohawk is not a separate town. It is an unincorporated community, and the U.S. Census counts it as a census designated place that spans parts of Sparta and Byram townships. Most of the lake and White Deer Plaza are in Sparta. The 2020 census counted 9,759 residents in the Lake Mohawk CDP.

A Short History of Lake Mohawk

Before the lake, the valley was a wet meadow known as Brogden Meadow. The marker at the plaza credits founders Arthur D. Crane and Herbert L. Closs with choosing the valley for a lake and private resort community. The Arthur D. Crane Company handled development, and Closs served as the developer and designer.

• 1926: the Wallkill River was dammed to create the lake.
• June 26, 1927: the community, originally called “the Reservation,” was dedicated.
• March 17, 1928: the first water spilled over the spillway, per the historical marker.
• 1929: the first nine holes of the club’s golf course opened.
• 1930s: sailing took hold, with a Snipe fleet chartered in 1934 and the yacht club incorporated in 1938.
• 1962: the Lake Mohawk Ski Hawks water ski club formed.
• 1988: White Deer Plaza and the Boardwalk District were added to the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places.

The plaza is named for Princess White Deer, a Mohawk woman who attended the community’s opening, and the lake honors her people. A plaque honoring Crane and Closs stands in the sunken garden on the plaza.

White Deer Plaza and the Boardwalk

White Deer Plaza is the community’s town center and the part of Lake Mohawk most visitors see. The historic district covers about 13 acres, and its buildings are known for their half timbered, castle like Alpine style. The Lake Mohawk Country Club building anchors the boardwalk.

The boardwalk runs along the north edge of the lake with a herringbone pattern. It was once about 2,500 feet long and was shortened and reshaped in 1957; today it is roughly 1,000 feet long, per NJ Skylands. According to NJ Skylands, the boardwalk is owned and maintained by the Lake Mohawk Country Club and is semi private, because some of the businesses along it are open to the public.

For visitors, the plaza is the experience: a walk past the historic buildings, a look out over the water from the public areas, and a meal or drink at one of the plaza’s restaurants and pubs. Our Sparta dining guide covers the restaurants around White Deer Plaza.

Lake Access Rules for Non Members

This is the most common question we get about Lake Mohawk, so here is the short version: the lake is private. Most of the community is restricted to residents and members, while the shops and restaurants of the historic district are open to visitors. Here is what NJ Skylands reports, and what that means for a visit:

• Beaches. The lake has ten beaches for the community’s member families. Do not plan a swim day here.
• Boating. Powered boating, sailing and water skiing all happen on the lake, but our team could not confirm any public launch, so do not bring a boat without checking with the club first.
• Fishing. The lake is stocked, including with striped bass, and has a catch and release policy. Ask the club before you fish.
• Private roads and areas. Manitou Island, reached by a bridge from West Shore Trail, is closed to the general public, and the lake loop road is described as mostly private.
• Follow posted signs. Obey any parking, dock and beach signs you see.

If you are interested in membership or have questions about access, contact the Lake Mohawk Country Club directly. Our team could not review the club’s own rules online, and rules can change, so treat the club as the final word.

If you want public lake time nearby, Sussex County has state park lakes open to everyone. Swartswood State Park in Stillwater, for example, offers seasonal swimming, canoe rentals and a boat launch per NJ State Parks.

Events at Lake Mohawk

White Deer Plaza and the boardwalk have hosted community events over the years, and some club events may be limited to members. Because schedules and public access vary from year to year, our team does not list Lake Mohawk events here unless an official organizer has published them. For public events across the area, check our things to do this weekend roundup, updated every week, and our October events guide.

History fans can pair a plaza visit with the Sparta Historical Society’s Van Kirk Homestead Museum at 336 Main Street in Sparta, open April through December on the second and fourth Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m., per its website.

How to Plan a Visit

1. Navigate to the plaza. The historical marker stands at East Shore Trail and Winona Parkway (County Route 613), near 30 White Deer Plaza, Sparta, NJ 07871.
2. Park where posted. Spaces around the plaza are limited, so read signs carefully.
3. Walk the district. Look for the sunken garden and its plaques, the country club building and the Tudor storefronts.
4. Eat on the plaza. See our Sparta restaurant guide for options.
5. Go in the off season. Fall foliage around the lake is a highlight, and weekdays are quieter.

Know Before You Go

• The lake is private, and its beaches are for member families; plan to enjoy the plaza and its businesses.
• Some roads in the community, including Manitou Island, are closed to the general public.
• The boardwalk is owned and maintained by the Lake Mohawk Country Club and is semi private, per NJ Skylands.
• Business hours on the plaza vary by season; check each business before you go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lake Mohawk open to the public?

The lake is private. The public can visit White Deer Plaza and the shops and restaurants of the historic district, but the lake’s beaches are for the community’s member families. Contact the Lake Mohawk Country Club with any access questions.

What town is Lake Mohawk in?

Lake Mohawk is an unincorporated community, mostly in Sparta Township, Sussex County, with part of the census area in Byram Township.

How big is Lake Mohawk?

The lake covers roughly 800 acres and is about three and a half miles long, and the surrounding community covers about 2,300 acres.

When was Lake Mohawk built?

The dam was built in 1926, the community was dedicated on June 26, 1927, and the first water spilled over the spillway on March 17, 1928.

Who was White Deer Plaza named after?

The plaza is named for Princess White Deer, a Mohawk woman who attended the community’s opening in 1927.

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Primary sources for this guide: the Lake Mohawk historical marker at White Deer Plaza, NJ Skylands’ Lake Mohawk history, background history from Wikipedia, the Van Kirk Homestead Museum and NJ State Parks.

Featured photo: the Lake Mohawk boardwalk area in Sparta. Photo by Zeete via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.