The area is oriented around Shady Lake, a body of water on the South Fork Saline River impounded by a dam built c. 1940 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).

Shady Lake is located in central western Arkansas, on the southern fringe of Ouachita National Forest, about 30 miles (48 km) west of Glenwood.

The lake itself is roughly crescent-shaped and was created in 1935 with the assistance of enrollees from the CCC, particularly by members from Company 742 stationed at Camp F-4 (situated within the community of Shady).

[3][5] Other CCC-built structures in the recreation area include the diving platform, amphitheater, caretaker's house, and two stone bridges.

The first bridge crosses the South Fork on the forest road east of the lake, and is a stone arch structure built over a metal culvert.