The lake was created by impoundment of the Nueces River by the Wesley E. Seale Dam opened in 1958.

It is an artificial lake owned by the city of Corpus Christi, four miles southwest of Mathis on the Nueces River at the intersection of the Live Oak, San Patricio, and Jim Wells county lines (at 28°03' N, 97°52' W).

In 1934 the state leased 288 acres surrounding the lake from the city of Corpus Christi for a park.

Around the lake, flat to rolling terrain is surfaced by deep, fine sandy loam that supports hardwood forest, brush, and grasses.

Lake Corpus Christi State Park provides camping and picnicking areas and two fishing piers.