In 1908, Abner and Mary Alberta “Bert” Sprague built a summer cabin in Glacier Basin. By 1910, they were living in it full time, operating it as a lodge that sat in what is now the Sprague Lake parking lot. Because of their love for the area and their impact on Glacier Basin – to improve the fishing in the area for his guests, Abner dammed the creek to create the lake – the lake now bears their surname.