The park is on land once intended for the Richard Bong Air Force Base, whose namesake is World War II veteran aviator Maj. Richard Ira Bong. Part of what was intended to be the 12,500-foot (3,800 m) main airstrip is still visible from aerial photos of the site.
Theft of signs
Largely due to its name's coincidental allusions to marijuana use, Bong Recreation Area is a frequent target of sign theft.[1] This has led to the manufacturing of T-shirts and sweatshirts bearing the highway exit sign.