The idea of Indian Lake was originally conceived by Joseph B. Righter in hopes of creating a development similar to nearby Mountain Lakes. He was a native of Denville and visualized that the waters of Den Brook could provide an excellent lake because of the surrounding terrain. He accumulated numerous parcels of land until he had accumulated approximately of land. Around 1920 he proceeded to clear the property. The trees were hauled by a yoke of oxen to a sawmill that was set up on site.