Watoga's unusual name is derivative of the Cherokee work, "watauga", which means "the river of islands". Native Americans gave this name to the Greenbrier River area, which forms several miles of the park's boundary, due to the river's wide, shallow nature which causes many sandbars and islands to be formed.

Wildlife abounds in the park. Raccoon, wild turkey, grouse, squirrels and wood-chuck are among the more common inhabitants. Sightings of black bear have been made in the park, and you may consider it a rare occasion should you visit Watoga and not see a whitetail deer.