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Standish-Hickey began as a 40-acre campground acquired by the Save-the-Redwoods League in 1922. It was named to honor Edward Ritter Hickey local lumberman who died of influenza while caring for the victims of the epidemic of 1918. In the late 1950's, the Standish family donated over five hundred acres, and additional acquisitions through the years have brough the park's total acreage to 1,012. Much of the land, clear-cut and then burned over in a disastrous fire in the mid-1940's is just now regaining its former beauty.

Benbow State Recreation Area is popular for camping, hiking, swimming, and picknicking in the summer, as well as salmon and steelhead fishing in the winter. The Campground and Day Use areas are separated by the South Fork of the Eel River, which was formerly dammed every summer to create Benbow Lake. In order to restore vital habitat for Chinook, Coho salmon, and summer-run steelhead, the dam was completely removed in 2017. Benbow Day Use Area is a popular summer gathering place that also hosts the annual Summer Arts and Music Festival. The Day Use Area is open year-round, while the Campground is open Memorial Day – Labor Day on a first-come, first-served basis.