Lake Greenwood became part of the South Carolina State Park System in April 1938 after Greenwood County donated the land for the park. Originally consisting of 1,114 acres, the park later exchanged some areas between the state and county to gain additional water frontage for development, and it currently totals 914 acres. Most of the park's initial construction was carried out by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a public work program created during the Depression of the 1930s. Structures built by the CCC include the granite retaining wall and entrance wall, the superintendent's residence, a ranger's residence, shelter #1, and the bathhouse. Remains of the original CCC camp stand across Hwy 702 from the park's main entrance.