It features hiking trails, boating, fishing, swimming, camping, picnic areas and shelters, lodges and concessions.

The local Izaak Walton League desired to create a 120-acre (49 ha) lake as early as 1926.

The City of Hampton and several civic organizations bought the property the following year and presented it to the State of Iowa.

Five fish rearing ponds were created from 1936 to 1937 to the east of the lake on 15 acres (6.1 ha) bought by the State Board of Conservation in 1935.

[3] Other minor structures, which include a flagstone walk and roadways, are also considered historic and were built by the CCC.