The first inhabitants of what is now Beltzville State Park were the Lenape who lived along the Pohopoco Creek. After the infamous “Walking Purchase” of 1737 reached its northern terminus a few miles northwest of the park, early European settlers came to the area and later formed the farming village of Big Creek Valley.
In 1966, Big Creek Valley was vacated for the construction of a flood control dam, as part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control project. Construction of the dam began in 1970, and was completed in 1972. The park officially opened to the public on Memorial Day weekend of 1972.