The Lake House in Crystal Lake Park
The Lake House sits on the south side of Crystal Lake Park at 206 West Park Street in Urbana, just north of University Avenue at Park and Race streets. It is a small venue, with a rental room seating 50 or 60 standing and up to 160 standing when the patio and Lakeside Deck are in use, and PYGMALION's shows here are all ages. MTD's Gold and Orange bus routes serve the park, and boating at the Lake House and a fishing pier next to it are accessible.
Before you go
- Capacity
- 60
- Indoor or outdoor
- Both: an indoor rental room with a patio and Lakeside Deck in an outdoor park
- Official site
- urbanaparks.org
- Next festival here
- PYGMALION, Expected September
Worth knowing before you go
- It is a small space, so a full show means standing room.
- The park's parking lot is shared with the Anita Purves Nature Center and the aquatic center, on the north side of the park.
- Restrooms are only open during the Lake House's hours; portable toilets are in the park all year.
- The lake boat rental runs weekends 12pm to 7pm in May and late summer, and Thursday to Sunday through June and July.
Festivals here
Venue basics: Small room: 50 seated, up to 160 standing · MTD Gold and Orange buses · Park lot shared with the aquatic center.
Is it for you
Choose it if
- You want a small, all-ages show in a park setting on a lake.
- You are arriving by MTD bus.
Think twice if
- You want a big crowd: the room seats 50 and holds 160 standing at most.
- You are planning to camp: we don't yet have confirmed information about camping here.
Getting there and parking
The Lake House is at 206 W. Park Street in Urbana, just north of University Avenue at the corner of Park Street and Race Street, on the south side of the 144-acre Crystal Lake Park. MTD's Gold and Orange bus routes serve the park.
The park's parking lot is shared between the Anita Purves Nature Center and the Crystal Lake Park Family Aquatic Center.
Festival-specific · PYGMALIONThe festival recommends MTD buses for getting to and around its venues, and Mobile Meter parking in Downtown Urbana and around the venues if you drive.
Accessibility
Boating at the Lake House is accessible and there is an accessible fishing pier just west of the building. Restrooms are open during the Lake House's hours of operation, and portable toilets are available in the park all year.
Confirm your specific needs with the venue before you travel (urbanaparks.org).
Camping
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at the Lake House. The venue's own pages are the place to check: urbanaparks.org.
Recently at the Lake House
July is Parks and Recreation Month!
From the venue · Jul 17, 2026
Livestream: Hip-Hoot-Hooray! It's Our Owl's Birthday!
From the venue · May 8, 2026
Urbana Park District Live Stream
From the venue · Apr 23, 2026
A little history
Crystal Lake Park was the Urbana Park District's first park when the district was formed in 1907. The Lake House was built in 1986 alongside a $1 million overhaul of Crystal Lake, and it now has an indoor room with a fireplace for the winter months, a patio and a Lakeside Deck, with pavilions, playgrounds, a labyrinth and seasonal boat rental around it.
PYGMALION uses the Lake House as one of its September venues, alongside Krannert Center, Gallery Art Bar and Rose Bowl Tavern; performances here are all ages.