The dam and lake are named after President Andrew Jackson (nicknamed "Old Hickory"), who lived in the vicinity, at The Hermitage.

Old Hickory Lake is a mainstream storage impoundment on the Cumberland River operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The reservoir contains 22,500 acres (91 km2) at an elevation of 445 feet (above sea level) and extends 97.3 river miles.

Public facilities include eight marinas, two Corps-operated campgrounds, and 41 boat access sites, as well as the Old Hickory Lake Arboretum.

This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Army Corps of Engineers