The 914-acre (3.7 km2) park partially occupies a series of peninsulas bordering 11,400-acre (46.1 km2) Lake Greenwood.

The state park consists of land donated in 1938, during the Great Depression, by Greenwood County.

It was one of 16 state parks developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in South Carolina, a program established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to create employment while investing in construction of infrastructure.

Many of the structures built by the corps are still prominent features and amenities, including picnic shelters, a water fountain, a lakeside terrace, and a boathouse.

It features interactive exhibits detailing the history and projects of the Civilian Conservation Corps in South Carolina parks.