Greenwood State Beach, also known as Elk Beach, lies in the village of Elk on the Mendocino Coast north of Point Arena along Highway 1. Established in 1978, the 47-acre protected area preserves a shoreline tied to Elk’s past as a lumber town. The beach was used by the L.E. White Lumber Company from 1884 to 1916 and later owned by the Goodyear Redwood Lumber Company until 1930. The former lumber company mill office now serves as the visitor center, connecting the park to its industrial history. Named for Britton Bailey Greenwood, the beach was renamed in 1995 and faced possible closure in 2012 during state budget cuts.