[2] The forests in and around Jackson Lake State Park were previously harvested to fire the furnaces of numerous 19th-century iron works that were located in southern Ohio.

It had previously been a "state reserve", similar to a park but with less development, after a dam was built on Black Fork creating Jackson Lake in 1938.

At one time this same region was a barren wasteland that had been stripped of its old growth forests to provide fuel for the iron furnaces.

Plant life at the park includes dame's violet, goldenrod, spring beauties and asters.

Common game fish in Jackson Lake include carp, bass, bluegill and muskellunge.