The Lakeside Association also made the decision early on to sell plots of land within the community on renewable 99 year leases. Over the years, residents built cottages and houses on their plots. Almost all of the cottages are unique; many are wood houses in Victorian style, although different styles of buildings and materials can also be seen. Restaurants and shops also opened around the downtown park of Lakeside. The Lakeside Association eventually purchased additional land on its eastern side, enabling the community to grow. Recreation facilities, meeting halls, places of worship, and parks have been added over the years. The Lakeside Association is responsible for the upkeep of all roads and public services within Lakeside.
Architecture
Lakeside contains many well preserved historic buildings. In 2001 Chris Thomas documented all the homes and buildings within the gates of Lakeside, and counted a total of 890, although more have been built since then along the Oak Avenue extension and still others as in-fill projects. The community is largely residential with a small business/shopping area near Central Park. The Lakeside Association owns and operates a number of large assembly buildings:
Hoover Auditorium
South Auditorium
Orchestra Hall
Wesley Lodge
C. Kirk Rhein Jr.Center for the Living Arts
WoHoMis Lodge
Places of worship:
Bradley Temple The Bradley family constructed this facility and donated it to Lakeside on the condition that it be used for children's worship activities.
Hoover Auditorium Lakeside's main auditorium, with a seating capacity of 3,000 persons, is used for worship services on Sunday mornings and headline events during the week.
There is also a small local museum, Heritage Hall, at the corner of Maple Avenue and Third Street. The Lakeside Archives, where property records and Lakeside Association minutes going back to the 1800s are available for inspection, is located at Sycamore and Third Street. The fountain at Lakeside Hotel was built by the late landscaper Robert L. Barna, and two of his sons Jimmy J. Barna, and Steven C. Barna.
Lodging
The Hotel Lakeside was built in 1874 and is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. After Labor Day through October, it is open to private groups only. The Fountain Inn, on the other hand, is open all year. A more modern hotel, it has conference facilities as well. There are many privately owned cottages available for rental through local real estate offices, in addition to smaller bed and breakfast inns. Cabins and an RV campground are available for a more rustic atmosphere. Finally, group dormitory accommodations, usually for youth groups, are available at WoHoMis Lodge.
