Many visitors have long come here to admire the Grand View. One of the first was Joseph Carper, a gunsmith who moved his family here in 1855. The family sold Carper rifles to area residents for $25 each and operated a sawmill, gristmill, and boarding house. In 1939, the state of West Virginia purchased 52 acres at Grandview to develop a day use park, and the Civilian Conservation Corps built roads, shelters, and a picnic area that are still in use today. Construction began in 1960 on the 1200-seat Cliffside Amphitheater, and children's playgrounds, a recreation area, and additional walkways were built from 1961 to 1964. Honey in the Rock premiered at the amphitheater in 1961, and Hatfields and McCoys debuted in 1970. After more than 50 years as one of West Virginia's most popular state parks, Grandview was transferred to the National Park Service in 1990 and became an integral part of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, continuing to draw visitors for the Grand View.