Lake Bella Vista owes its humble beginning to Grass Lake and the vision of the developers. In 1971, a new development company, called Cannon Development Company, purchase approximately 950 acres of land, including a swamp area named Grass Lake, from several property owners. The site was located 12 miles N.E. of Grand Rapids, and was bordered on all four sides by Belding Rd., Myers Lake Rd., Nine Mile Rd., and Blakely Dr.  

Of the 950 acres, the developers planned to convert the swamp area, Grass Lake, into a 250 acre man-made lake named Lake Bella Vista. Included was a smaller 12 acre man-made lake named North Lake Bella Vista. The large lake level is maintained by two separate irrigation wells. The small lake level is maintained by one separate irrigation well. The Community also consists of 21 common areas, or parks, and a private water system.  

Currently there are 247 lakefront lots on Lake Bella Vista, 48 lakefront lots on North Lake Bella Vista, and 475 off-lake lots. Combined with multi-units, and commercial units, Lake Bella Vista represents a combined total of 1032 units.  

The Lake Bella Vista crest logo design was intended to blend the elements of sun and water, and along with its shield, eagle, bright colors of the flag and the coat of arms of Spain to signify the year around recreational setting. The original intent of the developers was to develop the Community based on a Spanish architectural theme, and therefore, the reason for the Spanish street names. The meaning of Lake Bella Vista in Spanish is "lake with a beautiful view".