Indian Mountain State Park is unique in that it was developed upon an abandoned strip mine, and serves as an example of how strip-mined land can be reclaimed and used for recreational and other purposes.

As the creek descends to the Oswego area south of Jellico, the valley expands into a marshy floodplain approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) wide.

Interstate 75 passes through the Clear Fork Valley just east of the park, connecting the area to Lexington to the north and Knoxville to the south.

Although the Cherokee transferred possession of what is now Campbell County to the United States in 1805, the northern Elk Valley remained sparsely populated for most of the 19th century.

[4] During this period, the Saxton Coal Company operated a large surface mine at what is now Indian Mountain State Park.

[6][7] Indian Mountain State Park currently maintains a campground with 49 fully equipped campsites, three picnic pavilions, and 3 walking trails.

Indian Mountain Lake and several ponds in the park are stocked with catfish, bluegill, large-mouthed bass, and crappie to provide fishing opportunities.