Van Damme State Park on the Mendocino Coast near Little River spans about 1,831 acres across State Route 1, combining a public beach at the Little River mouth with inland lands extending up the river valley. Named for Charles F. Van Damme, who was born locally in 1881, bought the land with ferry-business profits, and died in 1934, the park later entered California’s state park system. Its significance lies in its varied landscapes, including coastal shore, river corridor, campgrounds, hiking trails, and pygmy forest with stunted trees in poor, marshy soils. The park also includes protected offshore waters and the Spring Ranch unit, acquired in 1996.