Mendocino Woodlands Recreational Demonstration Area
Also known as: Mendocino Woodlands Outdoor Center
Why it's listed
Mendocino Woodlands is a 720-acre state park set in a second-growth Coast Redwood canyon about nine miles inland from the northern California coast. Built in the 1930s on the site of the abandoned logging town of Boyles, it was one of 46 Recreational Demonstration Areas created to turn worn-out lands into recreation space. The National Park Service supervised design, while Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration crews did the work. Three group camps and an administration area sit along the Little North Fork of Big River, separated by forest and topography. All buildings are Old Growth Redwood with board and batten or shake siding and stone fireplaces, and a single unpaved dirt road ends in a cul-de-sac. The first camp opened in 1938 and all three were complete by 1943. Few changes have been made since. It is the only such area in California and the only one in a Redwood forest, and it is regarded as having the best integrity of any in the country.
Significance in brief: It is presented as the only Recreational Demonstration Area in California, the only one in a Redwood forest, and one of only two group camp facilities built west of the Rockies. The nomination argues it has the greatest integrity of any such area in the country, with its site plan, unpaved cul-de-sac road and rustic Redwood buildings almost unaltered. It is described as the largest and most intact state park development by the Park Service in California in the 1930s.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 97001262, listed September 25, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 11301 Little Lake Road, Mendocino |
|---|---|
| County | Mendocino County |
| Listed | September 25, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97001262 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | National Park Service (NPS), with Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration labor |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/Craftsman; NPS Rustic |
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Conservation, Politics/Government, Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated September 25, 1997 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Continues to serve its original recreational functions almost without interruption; managed by a private nonprofit under a concession agreement with California State Parks. Of the buildings, only 3 are noncontributing. |
| Acreage | 720 |
| Coordinates | 39.32978, -123.70045 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 97001262.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6816702
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.