The land was situated on the western shore of Kentucky Lake near the Eggner's Ferry Bridge.

[4] The property also includes 34 cottages, some of which belonged originally to the defunct Cherokee State Park, which was nearby.

The park was originally 300 acres, and it included a beach, cottages, boat and fishing docks, a picnic area, a bathhouse, and a 200-seat dining hall.

It was designed to provide the same standards as Kentucky Lake State Park under the separate but equal doctrine.

Cherokee State Park was closed by 1964 after Governor Bert T. Combs signed the executive order ending segregation in 1963.

The university leased the park area and used some remaining structures to establish a boathouse and a trophy room as Murray State began NCAA level rowing competition in 1998.

The former Cherokee State Park dining hall was renovated and reopened in Fall 2010 as a meeting and event facility.

[13] Kenlake State Resort Park has been home to the Hot August Blues Festival every summer since 1989.

Other artists to play the festival have included KoKo Taylor, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Lew Jetton, and Chris Cain.