From The Ghosts of the Prarie (http://www.prairieghosts.com/maplelk.html)

The ghost light at Maple Lake has been spotted at various points along the shore by dozens of people. Its source remains a mystery.

Near Willow Springs, Illinois is a place on the edge of the forest preserve called Maple Lake. It is a pleasant unassuming place but it is also the location of one of the Chicago area's most enigmatic "ghost lights". This mysterious ball of red-yellow light appears over the man-made lake and then travels into the woods on the opposite side. It has been observed dozens of times but only lasts for about a minute at a time. Investigators have been unable to come up with an explanation for the light and the ideas claimed by debunkers of people running through the woods with flares is generally considered to be ridiculous.

Like many ghost lights, the legends surrounding the light point toward an accident that occurred many years ago and left a man decapitated. The light is reputed to be the glow of his lantern as he searches for his missing head.

Willow Springs is a suburb south of Chicago that can be reached by Archer Avenue off of I-294. The lake is located between Archer Avenue and 104th Avenue in the preserve bordered by the Chicago Ship Canal and the Calumet Sag Channel.

When was Maple Lake created?

This is from Shadows of Chicago page (http://www.shadowsofchicago.com/maple.html)

  There are many ghost stories that involve water as, in theory, spirits are said to be drawn to water. It's possible that Maple Lake is no different. The man made lake is located just off Archer Avenue, which has come to be known as a paranormal "hot spot" on the south side of Chicago. There are many other haunted locations in the area, including Resurrection Cemetery, St. James-Sag Cemetery and many other spots.

For years Maple Lake was known as a place of for fun, recreation, picnics, swimming and, at night was popular as a local "Lovers Lane". Unfortunately though, this image has been tarnished in recent years, thanks to the fact that there has been a been string of young women's bodies found along the shore of the lake. Could this be the reason for the Maple Lake's ghost light? Could this murder victims still be seeking peace?

Some have suggested this, but there seems to be an older legend to explain the strange lights. It is a familiar one and similar stories have been attached to other locations where ghost lights are seen and the legends always involve the loss of someone's head.

The Maple Lake light is said to be the head of a local farmer who was accidentally beheaded by some of his farm machinery. They say that at night he returns with his trusty lantern, looking along the far side of the lake for his head. While this story is almost surely the stuff of local lore, there are many eyewitness accounts of the mysterious light. The accounts say the light is red in color and lasts for just a few seconds. It usually bobs along the shore of the lake for a few moments before it disappears.

Despite the number of accounts, paranormal investigators (including the Shadows of Chicago group) have yet to be able to track down the source of the light. We have been to the lake many times and have yet to see the spectral light appear. It is said to be more frequent at night. Maple Lake is still a place for people to picnic and fish. You have to wonder if the people that come here with their families know of the ghost light? Or of the lake's recent and grisly past? Some things, perhaps they just don't want to know! (C) Copyright 2001 by Shadows of Chicago. All Rights Reserved.