Growth of resorts along the Chain of Lakes increased dramatically with the arrival of the Milwaukee Road railroad to the area in 1901. The railroad crossed the lakes between Pistakee Lake and Nippersink Lake where Route 12 now crosses. (The train tracks are still there and handle an occasional train.)
Vacationers would take the train from Chicago and get off at a station by Nippersink Lake and then go by foot or by boats to various resorts.
Small cottages and resorts grew on the shores of the lakes as the area became a prominent tourist destination. The Great Depression, however, was a major hit to the area and tourism decreased tremendously. Resorts closed. Some of these resorts were then turned into year-round homes.
--Cooter
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