Location: Located in southern St. Clair County, about a half mile east of New Athens. Access is available east from New Athens via Old Highway 13 and Darmstadt Road.

Description: Some 1800 acres of the 2000-acre site of Peabody River King were donated to the IDNR by the Peabody Coal Company in 1994. Peabody Coal had mined the area from the late 1950s through the late 1980s, operating its surface mines under a series of mine reclamation measures. As a result, the area contains a varied topography, including more than 20 lakes and ponds totaling 534 acres. All of the water impoundments are a result of the surface mining operations. The Beaver Lake boat ramp allows angler access to several of the site's larger lakes that are connected to Beaver Lake. Mowed bank-fishing access is located adjacent to, and across the lake from the boat ramp.

Contact Information:
Peabody-River King State Fish and Wildlife Area
10981 Conservation Road, Baldwin, IL
618-785-2555
IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Eric Ratcliff
(618)931-4217