[1] The reservoir also occupies a small part of Camp, Upshur, and Morris Counties.

Lake O’ the Pines (formerly known as "Ferrell's Bridge Reservoir") was created by the construction of the Ferrells Bridge Dam on the Big Cypress Bayou approximately 81 miles (130 km) upstream from the bayou's confluence with the Red River.

The reservoir was created as part of the overall plan for flood control in the Red River Basin below Denison Dam in Oklahoma.

Additional purposes of wildlife conservation, recreation, and water supply were added during construction.

The lake provides water supply storage for the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District which serves the cities of Jefferson, Ore City, Lone Star, Avinger, Hughes Springs, Daingerfield, and most recently Longview.