(May) 1961 Sam Dale Lake (Flood 3)

For over 60 years Wayne County residents have enjoyed Sam Dale Lake at Johnsonville. Gently rolling terrain, lush woods and a beautiful lake make the Sam Dale Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area the perfect spot for a family outing.

Located northwest of Johnsonville in Wayne County, this area has something for everyone: fishing, hunting, picnicking, and camping. Visitors may see quail, rabbit, dove, squirrel, deer, muskrat, fox, raccoon, owls, turkey, hawk, or beaver roaming the timber or brushy fields of the park.

The initial 40-acre piece of land was purchased in 1959. Since then, additional land has been added bringing the total to 1,302 acres.

The site was named for Sam O. Dale, an eight-term state representative who also served as a teacher, principal and superintendent of schools.

The highlight of a visit is the Sam Dale Lake. The beautiful 194-acre lake has 5 miles of shoreline trails, a scenic road over the dam, and even sandy swimming inlet. Fishing boats, canoes or kayaks are a wonderful way to explore the lake.

In 1960 the engineers knew it would take many months of average rainfall to fill the new lake. Serendipitously, the Sam Dale Lake was filled quickly with the help of record-setting, heavy rains that fell the weekend of May 7th, 1961. The heavy rain and high water didn’t damage the new Lake dam, according to the project manager, but helped fill the new man-made lake.

The lake and surrounding prairies are maintained by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Take a drive through Sam Dale Lake this summer….and don’t let local history be a mystery.

WCP, IDNR DGS 5/2022