About This Location
Lake Ronkonkoma is a 243-acre kettle lake in Suffolk County, the largest freshwater lake on Long Island. The lake has an average depth of 15 feet with a deepest point of about 65 feet. According to legend, it was sacred to the local Native American tribes. The lake has been the site of numerous drowning deaths, particularly of young men, leading to dark folklore about its waters.
The Ghost Story
The Lady of the Lake is Long Island's most enduring ghost legend. According to the tale, a Native American princess committed suicide in the lake after her warrior lover was killed, and her body was never recovered. She returns annually to claim another male victim, luring young men to watery deaths in revenge. The phantom princess can be seen lamenting along the shore, calling out to potential victims. Locals claim the lake has taken an unusual number of male drowning victims over the decades. Some report seeing a beautiful woman beckoning from the water's surface at night. Whether supernatural curse or dangerous swimming conditions, the lake has earned its deadly reputation.