In 1870, Nathan Stinson and James Upton bought 1,720 acres in this area, including much of the beach. Roads, tent platforms, and the Dipsea Inn were built in short order. The Dipsea footrace, from Mill Valley to the Dipsea Inn, was born in 1905. In 1939, Marin County paid $20,000 for 14 acres of the beach as a public park. Expanded parklands were transferred to the California State Park system in 1949, and then to the new Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1977.