Bullards Beach State Park lies at the mouth of the Coquille River where it meets the Pacific Ocean and reflects both the area’s coastal landscape and early settlement history. The park was assembled over time through land purchases made between 1962 and 1985, including acquisitions from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Its name honors the Bullard family, early settlers near Bandon. Robert Bullard operated a store, a post office, and a ferry across the Coquille near the present U.S. 101 bridge. The park is also known for the Coquille River Lighthouse, built in 1896 and operated until 1939 at the meeting of river and ocean.