Sam Dale Lake State Fish & WIldlife Area

Gently rolling terrain, lush woods and a beautiful lake make the Sam Dale Lake State Fish & 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, camping and swimming. Visitors may see quail, rabbit, dove, squirrel, deer, muskrat, fox, raccoon, owls, turkey, hawk, woodstock or beaver roaming the timber or brushy fields of the park. The highlight of a visit here will be Sam Dale Lake, a beautiful 194 acre lake to swin in, site beside and enjoy or explore on trails along the 5 miles of shoreline. In addition, several smaller ponds are home to fish and wildlife. 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 in Hamilton County.