Lake Chaubunagungamaug

Don’t worry if you’re not from the area and can’t pronounce the lake with the big long name. Like many other, I just call it Webster Lake. No worries, people will know what you’re referring to.
Great place to bring the kids. Both the beach and the lake are clean and spacious. Not the kind of zoo you find at some of the other parks in the area.

My parents have been bringing me to this lake ever since I was in diapers.
It’s not only beautiful, but also very clean and usually not too noisy with passing boats and jet skis– especially if you frequent North or South Pond rather than the bigger and busier Middle Pond. Plus the waters are calm enough to kayak in, and there’s plenty of little coves and mini islands to explore.
There’s a fireworks show that goes on every fourth of July, and they don’t skimp on the amount of bang they deliver. Besides just on the 4^th, many people across the lake like to set off fireworks all summer long, and if you have a decent spot you can often catch a free show yourself.
The fish are fed bread by the people who live there year round, so if you tend to float in the water for too long, they’ll start to nibble at you. They see you as a giant chunk of bread. Either way it’s nothing to be concerned about, and can be avoided if you keep moving or use an inner tube.
Really the name alone should make you wanna go there.

great lake, clean water & clean beaches. large playground for the children, pinic tables, volleyball, basketball, etc.
i believe a sticker for webster residents is like $ 20 for 4 years, or a few bucks each visit if you prefer pay-​as-​you-​go but its a little more exspensive for non residents.

Best name for a lake EVER! If you don’t wanna tell your friends to meet at lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg then just go ahead and say Webster lake, they’ll know what you’re talking about. And in case you were wondering yes this is the longest name for a place in the country (6^th longest in the world) and the Native American (Nipmuc tribe) translation is roughly believed to mean «You fish on your side of the lake, I fish on my side, and nobody fishes in the middle». The 1,442 acre lake (17mi shoreline) is actually considered the largest natural lake in the state.
They do charge an entry fee for non Webster Residents to park there. But what you get for the money besides parking is access to the snack bar, bathrooms, and a lifeguard on duty (within regular summer hours). The beach is fairly small and the sand is rough and covered in pebbles but the lake is clean and a good place to swim in the middle of a hot summer. This is also a good place to just relax, have a picnic, play some basketball, or go for a little walk. They also have events here throughout the year to bring the community together which is nice.

Absolutely beautiful. We discovered this lake accidentally and were completely charmed! The name is what naturally drew us and I am so glad we saw the sign. I spent hours trying to get friends to believe it exists.

I accompanied my friend to Webster Lake a couple times while she trained for the triathlon in the area. Err yeah. it was hard to escape the mothers smoking around their children. Honestly, with such a small beach area and a good amount of picnic area, is it really necessary to invade my fresh air? And leaving your cigarette butts in the sand? What kind of example is that?
The water is VERY clear (and happily sans trash/​cigarette debris). It kind of freaked out my friend who was swimming in a lake for the first time. heh The beach however can be rocky in some parts and you’ll get stuck on one if you don’t arrive early enough. I had two towels down and it did the trick. The stand they have with drinks/​ice cream is cute and pretty cheap slash a life saver. And the public bathrooms aren’t too gross. Oh and I almost forgot. I love love LOVED watching the tweeners try and flirt with the lifeguards. It was like watching a coming of age movie where the underage girl doesn’t get the legal boy in the end. Thank goodness for that (I wanted to keep my ice cream down).
It’s pretty far out for me to come back on my own, but perhaps since the water is so beautifully clear. Parking costs a little moola. but we parked in town and did the relatively short walk. 3.5 stars rounded up.

For my 400^th review, I decided to go with this little FTR gem…
Located along the Connecticut border, this lake is beautiful. Spend the day swimming in the water, tanning on the beach, or enjoying a nice lunch. Too lazy to pack a cooler? No worries, there’s a snack bar here too.
Be careful, the fishies like to nibble your legs — I learned this as my friend and her aunts were screaming from the water. I on the other hand spent the day safe on shore away from the murderous fish and those pesky turtles. ;(
By the way, the spelling and translation of this lake has been disputed for years, but local residents prefer this translation:
«You Fish on Your Side, I Fish on My Side, Nobody Fish in the Middle».
I guess Native Americans knew that white folk like to take things that don’t belong to them.