History

Lake Doster is in the southeastern corner of Michigan's Allegan County in Gun Plain Township. This area of Michigan was settled during the President Martin Van Buren’s era (1837-1841) and the land was primarily used for logging and farming.

 

In 1961, Jack Kelly, an Irish onion farmer and private pilot from Chicago, flew himself over the hills, valleys and meadows of Allegan and Barry Counties. He optioned some 1,800 acres to create a community for raising families with a lake and golf course in the Summer of that same year. The bulk of land was purchased from Graydon and Barbara Doster, agreeing to name the lake, golf course and community after the Doters'.

 

After consulting with engineers to define a lake bottom in an area with many natural springs, Jack partnered with the Goodwin brothers, Norm and Ivan of the Carl Goodwin and Son Company to build a dam that created the lake. Jack met the Goodwin’s on the property in November 1962. Simultaneously as the Goodwin’s excavator moved twenty five thousand cubic yards of clay to build the dam, while several independent contractors began forming and clearing the lake bottom. The 130-acre lake was at its designed elevation of eight hundred sixty foot level with an average depth of 12 feet and 6 miles of shoreline by 1964.

 

Jack again partnered with Carl Goodwin and Son to begin construction of an eighteen-hole championship golf course in 1966. In 1968 both nines were completed. Lake Doster Golf Club was built on 180 acres and borders several subdivisions. In 1985, under the then-operation of Joe and Christina Langkamp, son-in-law and daughter of Jack respectively, the Lake Doster Golf Club was ranked as one of the Top 25 Golf Courses in the State of Michigan. Today the club provides a wide variety of exciting and entertaining activities. Annual memberships are available and golf leagues enjoy seasonal ply most weekdays. The Club House is perfect for banquets, receptions and golf outings with a bar and lounge, restaurant and snack bar, golf shop with rentals and a driving range.

 

In 1967 the Lake Doster Association was founded to bring the community together for the main purpose of holding social gatherings. Today the Lake Doster Association is known as the Lake Doster Homeowners Association. In 1976, Kelly/Goodwin Development Company granted property to the Lake Doster Association for the construction of outdoor tennis courts. The courts were finished by the following year.

 

From 1975 until late 2005, Joe Langkamp, (an environmental engineer and a honorably retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel (LTC), U.S. Army Medical Service Corps: Former Trustee of John Hoffman Kelly Trust and Christina Langkamp, daughter of Jack Kelly designed and developed much of the Lake Doster properties along with George Dunn, son-in-law, Trustee and Attorney managed the Lake Doster Development Company. Christina and Joe Langkamp also sold properties through the Lake Doster Realty Company. The Langkamps were instrumental in the installation of a municipal water and sewer system for the community.

 

In February 2003, Joe Langkamp discussed his intention to turn over control of the lake and common grounds to the residents. An Organization Committee was formed and after several years of preparation and negotiations the Lake Doster Development Company turned the ownership and operation of the lake to a newly formed Lake Doster Lake Association (LDLA) in 2006.

 

Some historical/milestone dates:

Thanks to Carol Kellogg for providing the original History of Lake Doster as it appeared in the Community Directory.