"Neighbor" is less a location than an attitude. As members of the Lake Wawasee community, we are united by our love for the lake and our commitment to preserving its beauty and health for generations to come. Join our association and help support the many benefits we provide, including those listed below.
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Help Keep the Big Shells in the Sky:
Fireworks Barge Replacement Campaign
A Tradition Worth Preserving
For decades the Wawasee Property Owners Association (WPOA) has staged an Independence Day fireworks show that rivals many of the best. Families and friends gather on shore or cruise by boat to the center of the lake to watch the sky erupt in color, a summer tradition that makes Lake Wawasee the lake we love.
To keep this tradition alive, the WPOA is launching a one‑time capital campaign to replace our aging fireworks barges so the show can continue safely and spectacularly for years to come.
Why We Must Act Now
Just this past show (2025), during transit to the center of the lake, we experienced several failures, including one that was critical:
Truss failure: Two trusses, the steel supports on one barge, broke apart while carrying several 10‑inch shells.
Emergency repairs: Crew members entered the water in the middle of a busy lake to make temporary repairs so the show could proceed.
Program delays: Barge issues caused the program to stall at key moments, including the opening notes of the Star Spangled Banner.
Beyond just this past incident, our fleet of ten barges (all but one are more than 25 years old) faces persistent problems:
Safety hazards: slick, uneven decks and failing welds have caused injuries.
Fire risk: wooden decking that frequently catches fire, including notable incidents in 2018 and 2021.
Structural and logistical failures: recurring breakdowns threaten show timing and crew safety.
Beginning with the 2026 show, the WPOA’s professional pyrotechnic partner will not include the large eight‑ and ten‑inch shells that fill the sky unless new barges are in place. The result would be a dramatically reduced annual fireworks display, in height and size.
The Solution
We plan to purchase a new modular barge, fire‑retardant platform system that will:
Sit higher in the water, protecting shells during transit.
By design, configure quickly, reducing show risk, setup time and crew risk.
Last for decades, saving tens of thousands of dollars in maintenance over its lifetime.
Estimated cost is $350,000.
Donate Today – Activate the Match and Keep Our Tradition Alive
Every year, our amazing Lake Wawasee community comes together to fund the Independence Day fireworks display. Now we need your help with a one-time capital campaign to replace our ten aging launch barges so the show can continue safely and spectacularly for decades!
Here’s how you can double your impact
We’ve formed a Founders Matching Fund seeded by leadership gifts. Through Labor Day, every dollar you give is matched one-for-one—unlocking matching funds and doubling the power of your gift. But the match only activates if the community steps up with new donations. Your contribution makes the match happen.
· A $50 gift becomes $100 toward new, fire-resistant barges
· A $250 gift becomes $500, protecting those signature shells
· A $1,000 gift becomes $2,000, driving us closer to our $350,000 goal
This is a one-time campaign—this effort is in addition to your annual fireworks donation. Together, we can replace the fleet, eliminate safety and fire risks, cut maintenance costs by over 75%, and ensure Lake Wawasee’s Fourth of July remains the most beloved tradition on the lake.
How to Give
Online: visit https://www.wawaseeassociation.org/new-barges
Check: payable to WPOA Fireworks Barges, PO Box 427, Syracuse, IN 46567
All donations are 100% tax‑deductible through WPOA’s 501(c)(3).
Find a list of donors at www.wawaseefireworks.com.
Our Goal
We must raise the full project cost by Labor Day so fabrication can begin this fall and the new barges debut for the July 4th 2026 show, which will coincide with our nation’s 250th anniversary.
Without your support, we risk losing the big shells—dramatically reducing the size and spectacle of our beloved fireworks show.
Imagine Next July 4th
Imagine the breathtaking sight of huge shells filling Lake Wawasee’s sky, reflecting brilliantly on the water- creating memories that last a lifetime.
An uninterrupted spectacle
A larger, safer launch platform
A secured Fireworks tradition for the next generation
Will you help keep Lake Wawasee’s signature celebration alive and booming?
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The Wawasee Property Owners Association underwrites many programs for our membership, and we need your membership and support.
The Sheriff Lake Patrol, Invasive Weed Control, and annual Independence Day Fireworks are specific funds to which you may apply a tax-deductible donation.
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The Wawasee Property Owners Association (WPOA) recently donated three redbud trees to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as a gesture of gratitude for the strong partnership shared between the two organizations.