STONEBORO, Pa. - Its history stretches longer than its shoreline.

"The town is 150-years-old and we are assuming that people were down here swimming 150 years ago," said Stoneboro Mayor William Everall.

And the hope is that 150 years from now people will be able to continue enjoying all that the Stoneboro Lake has to offer.  However, for the next couple of summers, at least, the privately owned lake will remain private.

"It was a very emotional decision for us," said owner Julie Marsteller with Lakeside Park Company.

Marsteller says the decision was purely a business decision.  She hopes the short break will give her the opportunity to pursue a more consistent revenue stream.  

"With the increase in above ground pools and water parks, that's taken a significant amount of our regular business. But we are still a draw with the high dive.  We were able to draw on the weekends and the other factor is that people are working all of the time.  Both parents are working, rather than having the mothers bring the children all week.  Now, they are working and it makes it more difficult," said Marsteller.

The lake, which has been in Marsteller's family her entire life, will continue to be open to people who rent a cottage from her as well as the people who own private property along the water.  Access will also be granted to people who lease boat slips and to people who purchase launch permits.  There are also plans to open the beach area for weddings, meetings and class reunions.  

The lake will continue to offer swimming lessons, but public swimming will remain off limits.

"I am really going to miss the children.  I mean, that is what made it for all of us.  Seeing the children come in and it was such a big place for them and going off the high dive for the first time and getting their certificate. So it's bittersweet," said Marsteller.