For other lakes with the same name, see Ellis Lake (disambiguation)

Ellis Lake (disambiguation)

Ellis Lake can mean:*Ellis Lake, CaliforniaIn Canada:*Ellis Lake *Ellis Lake *Ellis Lake *Ellis Lake...

Located in Marysville, California

Marysville, California

Marysville is the county seat of Yuba County, California, United States. The population was 12,072 at the 2010 census, down from 12,268 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Yuba City Metropolitan Statistical Area, often referred to as the Yuba-Sutter Area after the two counties, Yuba and...

, Ellis Lake has been the most memorable centerpeice of in the City of Marysville since the 1930s. It is a sparkling man-made lake surrounded by lush greenery and sidewalks with flocks of geese and a variety of other birds. Feeding the geese has been a recreational activity enjoyed by the Yuba Sutter Area at the lake for years as well as boating and fishing.
The lake is bounded by 9th street to the South, B Street to the East, 14th Street to the North and D Street to the West.

History

Ellis Lake was once an unsightly swamp. It wasn't until 1924 that the Women's Improvement Club of Marysville commissioned Robbie McLaren, famed designer of the Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park, located in San Francisco, California, is a large urban park consisting of of public grounds. Configured as a rectangle, it is similar in shape but 20% larger than Central Park in New York, to which it is often compared. It is over three miles long east to west, and about half a...

 in San Francisco, to turn the swamp into a beautiful lake. The project was completed in 1939.
The lake, named for Marysville citizen W.T. Ellis, Jr. offers a pleasant walk, picnic areas,and fishing

Body of Mary Jane Gooding

On October 20, 2002 a car was found at the bottom of the lake, in seven feet of water. Inside the car was the skeletal body of Mary Jane Gooding. It is believed by police that Mary Jane Gooding, accidentally drove her husband's car into the lake on October 10, 1981. It is believed by her children that she was a victim of foul play.

Independence Day Celebration & Tragedy

For decades, Ellis Lake hosted a 4th of July

Independence Day (United States)

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...

celebration every year, an event that is composed throughout the day of power boat and cardboard boat races (youths build boats out of cardboard and duct tape, trying to cross the lake without sinking). An annual fireworks display was cancelled in 2004 after a young girl lost part of her leg due to a rogue firework shot from the island in the center of the lake into the gathered crowd. That year they had twice as many fireworks than usual, which made shooting the fireworks more difficult and dangerous. The lawsuit finally closed 11 months later when the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection released a report stating that mortar shells burst low into the crowd onto the other side of the lake from Gazebo Island.

Children's Fishing Derby

Ellis Lake is the location of the annual Marysville fishing derby, when the lake is stocked with fish and local children can fish and win prizes for the size of fish they catch.

Recent Additions

A small commercial center opened up on the south end of the lake. It includes some restaurants, SportsBar and a bank.

The Marysville Exchange Club donated a new flagpole in October 2007, to coincide with the installation of a new fountain and lighting system. The fountain's new computerized light system is capable of running 37 colors and will run year round from 8pm to midnight.