Thousands of people escape to the shores of Cape Cod beaches every summer, little do they know that hundreds of years ago an Indian tribe was getting ready to flee. There is a Native American legend that has sparked many different versions of the story and even children's books. This particular story takes place in Dennis and explains the tale behind the fish shaped Scargo Lake. 

Legend has it that the Nobscusset and nearby tribes were suffering a long and terrible drought. The only thing the tribes could do was pray and hope the drought would soon come to an end. Even with the drought the battle for the Nobscusset Princess's hand continued. The Indian Princess named Scargo was being courted by an Indian warrior of a neighboring tribe. The two grew fond of each other very quickly, and Princess Scargo would not see any other suitors. The young man brought Princess Scargo a hollowed out pumpkin filled with fish as a symbol of his affection for her. Yet there was sad news to follow the gift- he was being sent off to battle. After a quick but heartbreaking goodbye, Princess Scargo placed her gift in a shallow pool to keep the pumpkin and fish healthy. The Princess went down to the pool every day to gaze at her beautiful gift and to remember her kind warrior.

One day the Princess went to check on her fish and found the pumpkin had dried up and the fish dying. The chief saw how panicked his daughter was becoming and ordered a large basin to be dug. Once the basin was completed and the shriveled pumpkin full of fish was placed in the center, the autumn sky opened up and water rushed down. The Princess was caught unprepared and somehow in the abundance of rain she drowned. Her death was viewed as a sacrifice for her tribe. Her death was in exchange for the end of the terrible drought.  Though the Princess did not survive, her treasured gift and her tribes were saved. 

To this day Lake Scargo remains filled with an abundance of fish. In the 1800's a tower was erected not too far from Lake Scargo, on Scargo Hill. They named the tower Scargo Tower and from the top of the tower is a beautiful near 80 mile view of the Cape- Scargo Lake included. It is rumored to be one of the most beautiful sunset spots on the Cape, and with the story behind the view it's all the more special.