The park is located along the Des Moines River in Van Buren County.

[3] The state acquired the land in 1920, and dedicated it as Big Bend Park the following year.

He was noted for conservation legislation while in Congress and was instrumental in establishing the state park system in Iowa.

[4] By 1933 a lodge and a golf course, no longer extant, had been developed in the northwest part of the park.

Company 770's primary responsibility was the construction of the earthen dam and concrete spillway to create the man-made lake.

Its historic buildings and structures include the gatehouse and portals, a regulatory sign, lodge, pump house, and picnic shelter.

The rectangular, random rubble limestone gatehouse is separate from the portals and is located to the south of them.

A wrap-around porch composed of stone walls covers the east side of the building and parts of the adjoining north and south facades.

The underground pump house lies to the east of the lodge and is marked by its double-wooden doors.

Restrooms are located in the enclosed rear portion of the structure, and the north side is open.

Located in a clearing off the park road, the custodian's residence is a single-story, rectangular structure composed of rough-faced, coursed ashlar limestone.

The entrance to the picnic area is marked by four square cement posts that are flanked by two coursed ashlar stone walls.

Ten check dams that prevent soil erosion into the lake are located along the trail.

Concrete steps with random rubble side walls lead down to the beach on the lake.

Nineteen burial mounds from the ancient Woodland Period are located in the northwest corner of the park.