The Lake Wedington Recreation Area is a 37 acre parcel of wooded land and beach that surrounds the historic, man-made 102 acre Lake Wedington. The area lies 13 miles west of Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas near the Illinois River and in the vicinity of the community of Savoy. The lake allows for pristine fishing, while the beaches provide an area for swimming and family recreation. The lush hardwood forests that surround the lake host a bevy of trails and picnic areas, ensuring fun to be had by all who enjoy the scenic beauty of the Natural State.

The lake's origin lies in the heart of American tragedy: the Great Depression. By the mid 1930's much of the farm land in the area had been depleted of production value. Many farm families were in dire straits and looked to the government for aid. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration provided developed "The Northwest Arkansas Land Use Project: An 18,000-Acre Demonstration in Better Land Use." The major goals were to aid those families stranded on valueless farm lands, while at the same time demonstrating that it was possible to improve the use of land in the Ozark region. Thus was born Lake Wedington.

Both state and federal agencies united and motivated local citizenry to construct the 102 acre lake and nature area. University of Arkansas teacher, C.B. Wiggans, served as project manager, beginning an affiliation with the University and the lake that persist to this day. By April 24, 1938, the lake as well as, a boathouse, bathhouse, outlook shelter, picnic areas, and cabins had been completed and were ready for dedication. The government project was an immense success, attracting over 45,000 visitors during the first summer alone.

In 1954, control of the lake was passed to the United States Forest Service. In 1988 after nearly 50 years of use, much of the area was run-down and the cabins were in disrepair. Due to government budget cuts, the solution to "fix" the area was to bulldoze. After hearing this solution, a group of concerned citizens, many of whom had fathers who had worked on the project in the 1930's, formed the nonprofit organisation Friends of Lake Wedington (FLW or FOLW) to try to find a better alternative to the government's "solution." the FLW vision was "Repair, Renovate, and Make Accessible to All." With this creed and a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, FLW set out on ambitious fund raising projects to raise money for their cause. By 1999, the group had succeeded in restoring the majority of the Lake Wedington cabins, while adding a new and accessible fishing pier, nature trails, museum area, and other facilities. Through the FLW efforts, the Lake Wedington Recreation Area was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 1997, the group received the prestigious Henry Award for Volenteerism by the Arkansas Department of Parks.

The Lake Wedington Recreational area is currently run by the University of Arkansas in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service.