Residents in the 19th century claimed that the biggest brook trout in the world (8 pounds, 14 ounces) was caught in the lake in 1843.

The History of Sullivan County reports, "Physicians frequently send invalids to recover health from its life giving qualities.

[7] Among these hotels was the Fur Workers' Resort (later White Lake Lodge, then Camp Hi-Li) which was initially aimed at furriers.

It was also home to the Lapidus bungalow colony which closed in the 1970s and the property was sold to the religious Satmar community which boasts a new large synagogue and mikvah belonging to the Satmar Community of Grand Rabbi Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, who visits on occasion, as his summer residence is in nearby Swan Lake.

Grand Rabbi Ben Zion Halberstam, the Bobover Rebbe spends his summers at the nearby Chiel Kurtz Bungalow Colony in White Lake, as did his late father.

Yeshivas Shor Yoshuv also has a bungalow colony nearby, where the late Rabbi Shlomo Freifeld would spend summers.

Since the space was too small, the producers then staged the festival on the farm of Max Yasgur, approximately three miles northwest of White Lake.