Henry Van Sickle came to the Carson Valley in 1852 where he erected a hotel, restaurant, blacksmiths shop, bar, while also being the first toll officer of the Kinsgsbury grade toll road. The property was purchased by Jack where he cut and sold thousands of Christmas trees, had a rodeo, and drive-in movie theater. From the 1960s until 1993, an equestrian stable for tourists, Stateline Stables, operated on the site with up to 60 horses taking riders on trails throughout the area. The ranch belonged to Jack Van Sickle when, in 1988, 542 acres (219 ha) of the land was donated to the Nevada Division of State Parks. In 2001, the California Tahoe Conservancy purchased the adjacent California property. The park opened to the public in 2011.[2][3]
The park encompasses 575 acres (233 ha) within Nevada and 150 acres (61 ha) in California. The main entrance as well as most of the historical buildings are on the California side.[5] The Heavenly Ski Resortgondola runs over the park grounds near the barn and stables. Features of the park include the historic Van Sickle farm barn, a 1917-era log cabin, and hiking trails with access to the Tahoe Rim Trail.[3]
