 Prior to 1786, the Ramaytush band of the Ohlone people had a settlement on the site, the village of Pruristac.Evidence of the village remains by a shell midden, located near the present day park ranger building.The Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portolà camped nearby in 1769, ~ to the west from 31 October through 3 November, during the Portolà expedition in upper Las Californias Province of New Spain.