History

In the late 1800s Needham Norris built a grist mill at the lake.
In 1892 John Mills bought the property and named the lake Mills Pond.
In the early 1900s, an old country store was located on the lake's banks where visitors could relax on the porch and fish for $.50.
The old grist mill collapsed during a storm in May 1949.
Harry Cornell purchased the lake in the early 1950s and renamed it Bass Lake, reflecting his love of nature and wildlife.
In 1996 during Hurricane Fran, the dam burst and the lake drained dry.
In 1999, the Town of Holly Springs acquired the property and began a lake restoration project.
The restoration was completed and the lake opened to the public in 2004.
Visitors once again relax on a lakeside porch, and they can fish for free.
The lake is fed by three creeks and has been a favorite spot for fishing, family picnics and baptisms for over 150 years.