The parkland was acquired between 1953 and 1967 and the State Parks Commission classified El Capitán State Beach in June of 1962. In 2002 the state acquired at a discount from the owners of El Capitan Ranch. The property rises above the existing park through oak woodlands and chaparral to the ridgelines of the
Santa Ynez Mountains. The
Refugio oil spill occurred just north of nearby
Refugio State Beach in 2015 when a pipeline carrying
crude oil ruptured. The spill went into a culvert that ran under
US 101 and into the ocean. The spill spread over of coastline, including El Capitán and Refugio state beaches. Both parks were closed for much of the summer during the clean-up, including during the typically busy
Memorial Day weekend. The pipeline which caused the disaster is no longer in service. In 2016, the park's water system was destroyed when the
Sherpa Fire swept through a canyon near the main campgrounds. The park had already closed due to the smoke and fire danger. In 2021, a project removed barriers for
steelhead trout swimming upstream to reproduce by rebuilding the entrance bridge. In January 2023, the park water system and entrance road experienced catastrophic damage from significant rainfall, prompting evacuations of park staff and closing the park for repairs. Park damages from the storm totaled $11.9 million, the third most expensive damage caused by the storm system to California State Parks. An update to the 1979 General Plan which included an inventory of wildlife, historic, and archeological assets and an outline of issues and concerns was started in 2024.
Gaviota State Park and Refugio State beach will be included in the recommendations for modernizing the infrastructure, adapting to
climate change impacts and providing sustainable recreational opportunities. ==Gallery==