Here is the email I received:

Hello John,
I have ties to America’s Research Gate. ARG determines when gates are open, and when they are closed. This contact with you will only happen once, and it is the only time the gate will be opened.
G. Cowsill
The gate is now closed.

This was a strange email to say the least. Was this real or someone just taunting me? I googled America’s Research Gate, but found nothing - I didn’t think I would. Then I googled Cowsill and found links to the 60’s band The Cowsills. I looked up their music and was stunned to discover they had a song called “Indian Lake”.

Here are the lyrics to “Indian Lake”...

You take a bus marked “Lakewood Drive”
And you keep on drivin’ till you’re out of the city
Where the air is fine with the sweet smellin pine
And the countryside’s pretty
And you’ll see daffodils peepin over
The hills or a honey lovin’ mama bear
You take a left at the bridge
Go down to Quakerforn Ridge
And in a minute you’re there
(dupe do be do do do )
Indian Lake is a scene
You should make with your little one
Keep it in mind if you’re lookin’ to find
A place in the summer sun
Swim in the cove have a snack in the grove
Or you can rent a canoe at Indian Lake
You’ll be able to make the way the Indians do


Here are a couple parallels between the Indian Lake Project, this song and the band.
1. The Cowsells, all family members, started the band as children.
2. The Cowsills manager was their father. He retired from a long career in the US Navy to manage his children.
3. The Cowsills reformed at one point and considered using several names. The Secrets and The Orphans were noted.
4. The lyrics:
Indian Lake is a scene you should make with your little one
The obvious connection with the Indian Lake Project and making that scene with a “little one”.
Keep it in mind if you’re lookin’ to find a place in the summer sun
The reference to “mind” and “lookin’ to find”.
5. My general thoughts on the lyrics are that they have many specific clues, and maybe even trigger words or phrases contained within. This strange email led to an even stranger and unexpected find.