Dierkes Lake, above the famous Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls, is a popular destination for locals and tourists. People show up to swim, fish, hike, and occasionally get chased by geese.

Even if you grew up in Twin Falls and spent your childhood playing at Dierkes, there are some things about the lake and park that you probably don’t know. We found 10 things that surprise first-time visitors and some cool historical information, including where the odd name for the lake comes from.

I think the water at Dierkes looks gross, and all the geese around pooping everywhere only makes the thought of swimming in the water extra unappealing. In addition to the gross factor of Dierkes Lake, there is also a fable that living in the lake is a monster who makes the lake glow green at night. No thanks, I’ll stay on the land and risk my safety with the angry geese and questionable behavior of the other visitors.

Dierkes is a weird name, so where did it come from? When the area was first discovered in 1907, the man who found it was named John Dierke. He planted an orchard in the canyon but eventually, the area flooded and he sold the land to the City of Twin Falls in 1969.