Located at the southwest corner of the lake, was an informal campground known as the Circus Grounds. During the early 1920s the big three lumber companies held a summer water carnival at Sunkist Lodge. The event drew thousands and this location became the overflow for campers. In the early 1960s, the forest service developed three campgrounds at the south shore—Aspen Grove, Eagle and Merrill. While the Circus Grounds, located on forest service property, was allowed to continue on, it having been a popular spot with the locals since the 1920s. By the 1970s, the writing was on the wall so to speak, and forest service converted the site as today’s Christie Campground.

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