[5] The 10-acre (40,000 m2) site has lush gardens, a large spring-fed lake framed by hillsides, and a variety of flora and fauna, swans, ducks, koi, turtles, and lotus flowers.

There are waterfalls, fountains, flower beds, statues, white swans across the lake, lacy fern grottos, lily ponds, and a Dutch windmill which is used as a chapel.

[6][5] The gardens are filled with little brick paths and short stairways which lead from the main trail to hidden alcoves where meditation or sitting and taking in the view is possible.

[8] The gift shop features arts and crafts from India which is adjacent to a museum focusing on Paramahansa Yogananda, the founder of Lake Shrine.

[5] The site of the present day Lake Shrine was once part of a 460-acre (1.9 km2) parcel of land in the Santa Ynez Canyon, called Bison Ranch.

After an initial daily lease arrangement, it was purchased by the silent film producer and director Thomas H. Ince in 1912 to serve as his studio that was developed into an expansive network of sets.

After Ince founded his new Triangle/Ince Studios in Culver City in 1915, the site was taken over the following year by director William S. Hart and eventually renamed Hartville.

[9][12][13] For a period of time hence, the property was used as a sand, rock, and gravel quarry before it was later purchased by Los Angeles real-estate magnate Alphonzo Bell Sr.[15] In 1927, the surrounding hillsides were hydraulically graded to fill the canyon, with the intention to completely level it for future development.

However, the earth-moving project was never completed, which left a large basin in an unleveled portion of the canyon that subsequently filled to a depth of 20 ft (6.1 m) with water from four (hot and cold) springs within the vicinity.

[15] Although much of the local citizenry considered the area to be valueless swampland, the property was nevertheless purchased by H. Everett "Big Mac" McElroy (the assistant superintendent of construction at 20th Century Studio) in 1940, when it was again used as a film set.

I was itching to build rockeries and put in rustic wooden bridges and a giant waterwheel that would act in conjunction with a pump as irrigation through a pipe-laid water system over the entire project.

Gross and his wife moved into the windmill and made plans to redevelop the site into a resort that included a rambling $2.3 million, 150-room hotel to be constructed around the contour of Lake Santa Ynez.

Rather than await a response, on the following day, Gross telephoned the church headquarters and was transferred to Paramahansa Yogananda who mysteriously initiated the conversation before the caller could even introduce himself or state his business: "You have some property for sale, don't you?

[4] With the support of several benefactors, Paramahansa Yogananda acquired the property in 1949 and constructed a temple, meditation garden, the Mahatma Gandhi peace memorial, and the newly replaced landing (2023).

During the months of improvement, Sri Yogananda commuted from the Mount Washington hermitage (whilst spending at least several nights in the houseboat) to supervise the project with a vision to create an environment that would reflect all aspects of God with peace, beauty, and harmony; and also invoked a blessing upon all of the future visitors to the Lake Shrine.

Pilgrims to the SRF Lake Shrine walk over small bridges, under archways of tropical trees, and through paths bordered by exquisite exotic flowers.

A fragrant area of ginger plants, bamboos, and cacti leads to a sumac-shaded meditation-seat, a natural formation of coral stone from the Salton Sea.

[21] A number of improvements have occurred on the property in the ensuing years, including: the construction of the main temple upon the southern bluff overlooking the lake (in 1996), construction of the monastics' ashram and retreat (1997), the purchase of the adjoining Santa Ynez Transcendental Meditation (TM) property (1998), the addition of a steel structure and copper roof over the Gandhi peace memorial (2002), the renovation of the Lake Shrine Court of Religions, entrance gate (2003), and the houseboat (2007); the restoration of the Windmill Chapel (2015), and the newly replacement landing (2023).

[15][21] The property was surrounded by flames during the 2025 Palisades Fire; one family defended the Lake Shrine for four days, and though there was some damage, most of the facilities were unharmed due to their efforts.

Originally designed by Paramahansa Yogananda as a "wall-less temple",[4] it was erected in honor of Mahatma Gandhi, the architect of India's freedom through nonviolent means.

Along with the architects, engineers, and other professional tradespeople, SRF monks with carpentry skills and construction experience participated in the project, which was entirely funded through donations from devotees.

About six years prior to the windmill restoration project, SRF staff had purchased some rare old growth redwood beams that were salvaged in Mendocino County.

[26] Further improvements included: the replacement or repair of all of the roofs; installation of additional hidden steel structural reinforcement to help prevent earthquake damage; and the precise re-creation of the original windmill sails, window casings, the skylight, and other elements of the building's extensive customized woodwork.

Additional upgrades were made to the furnace, gas lines, the access for the disabled, retaining walls, the surrounding landscaping; and the electrical, security, audio, and fire alarm systems.

Anne-Marie O'Connor of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "After the death of George Harrison, one of the most high-profile members of the Self-Realization Fellowship, his family and friends gathered at the Lake Shrine's small Windmill Chapel for his funeral.

"[32] The actress Linda Evans was invited by Dennis Weaver, when she was doing a guest appearance on McCloud, to the SRF Lake Shrine, to hear one of his monthly Sunday sermons.