Eisenhower State Park occupies the north shore of Melvern Lake in east-central Kansas, about 30 miles northeast of Emporia and 35 miles south of Topeka. Formerly called Melvern State Park, it was renamed in 1990 to honor former president Dwight D. Eisenhower. The park includes 1,345 acres of prairie and 440 acres of woodland, with additional recreation areas along the 6,900-acre lake. Beside it, the much larger Melvern Wildlife Area covers 10,008 acres and supports deer, turkey, quail, waterfowl, and other wildlife. Together they form an important setting for outdoor recreation, wildlife management, hunting, and seasonal wildlife viewing.