Woolly Hollow State Park's Civilian Conservation Corps Lake
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Why Rent On Bennett Lake
Bennett Lake is a 40-acre reservoir inside Woolly Hollow State Park in Faulkner County, central Arkansas, developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Work Projects Administration in 1935 as the Soil Conservation Service’s first project for studying the control of erosion and runoff. Named for the Soil Conservation Service’s first director, the lake sits within a park whose history includes the 1882 log cabin of William Riley Woolly’s son, moved to the current site and restored in 1975, giving the landscape a layered historical narrative that reaches from the frontier era through the New Deal.
A Central Arkansas State Park Cabin Stay
Greenbrier and Conway, within 10 to 20 minutes of Woolly Hollow State Park, provide vacation rental options that give families a comfortable home base for a central Arkansas park and lake stay. A cabin or vacation home with a full kitchen, multiple bedrooms, and outdoor space in this corridor connects your family to one of the most historically layered state parks in Arkansas. The Conway and Faulkner County area is within 30 minutes of Little Rock and provides access to one of the most complete sets of recreational and cultural resources in central Arkansas.
A CCC-Built Lake with Swimming, Fishing, and Hiking
Bennett Lake’s 40 acres provide swimming, fishing, and paddleboating access within the wooded state park setting that the Civilian Conservation Corps built with a craftsmanship still visible in every stone retaining wall and timber shelter. The park’s hiking trails wind through the surrounding Faulkner County hardwood forest with creek crossings and hillside views that give families a genuinely beautiful outdoor experience within a very compact area. The bass and catfish fishing on the lake is available throughout the warmer months, and the swimming area’s managed access makes it suitable for families with younger children.
The Historic Log Cabin and the SCS Heritage
The 1882 Woolly log cabin, moved to its current site in 1975 and carefully restored, is one of the most authentic pieces of nineteenth-century Arkansas frontier architecture preserved within a state park, and visiting it in the context of a lake day at Bennett gives families a historical experience that no theme park can replicate. The park’s status as the SCS’s first erosion control project adds a conservation science narrative that is genuinely interesting for families who want their outdoor experiences to carry educational weight. The combination of CCC craftsmanship, frontier architecture, and conservation science history makes Woolly Hollow one of the most content-rich small state parks in Arkansas.
Faulkner County’s Central Arkansas Position
Faulkner County’s central position in Arkansas, with Conway as its county seat and Interstate 40 as its main artery, makes Woolly Hollow State Park one of the most accessible state park lakes in the state. Harris Brake Lake, another major Faulkner County fishing resource, is within 20 minutes. Little Rock’s full metropolitan amenities, including the William J. Clinton Presidential Library, the Arkansas Arts Center, and the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, are 35 minutes to the south. For families who want a central Arkansas CCC lake stay with convenient access to both outdoor recreation and urban culture, Woolly Hollow and Bennett Lake are the right combination.
- Surface area (mi)
- 8.29
- Elevation (ft)
- 508.53
Popular activities
- Boating
- Kayaking
- Canoeing
- Swimming
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Jet Skiing
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Marinas on Bennett Lake
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Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to dive into what Bennett Lake has to offer? Let’s tackle some of the burning questions you might have as you plan your visit!
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Yes, swimming is allowed in Lake Bennett. At Woolly Hollow State Park in Arkansas, swimming is permitted at the lifeguarded swimming beach on Lake Bennett. At Lake Bennett Resort in Australia, public access is available for swimming in the lake.
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Bennett Lake is a popular destination because of its historical significance during the Klondike Gold Rush. Tens of thousands of goldseekers passed through the area, building boats and organizing their journeys. It was also the site of the world’s largest tent city in the winter of 1897-98.
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The daily catch limit for catfish in Bennett Lake, Arkansas, is 5. This limit applies specifically to this lake and is part of the regulations set by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Bennett Lake is open to fishing with rod or pole only.
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There is no beach with a boat launch on Bennett Lake. The information available does not mention a lake named Bennett Lake with a boat launch, but rather discusses other locations such as Bennett’s Creek Park and Boat Ramp which is associated with the Nansemond River.
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The closest town to Lake Bennett in Arkansas is Greenbrier. Lake Bennett is located within Woolly Hollow State Park, which is about 18 miles north of Conway, but Greenbrier is the nearest town. The park’s address is 82 Woolly Hollow Rd, Greenbrier, AR 72058.