The town was first settled in the 19th century by gold and mineral prospectors, and has become a popular summer tourist destination thanks to its scenic location and proximity to the salmon fishery of the Kenai River and Russian River.

In 1948, a road west to Kenai was opened, and by 1951, residents could drive north to Anchorage.

The Gwins eked out a living by operating a small packaged goods store out of a tent.

Gwin's Lodge was built from spruce logs harvested from the surrounding Chugach National Forest.

Cutting, hauling and hand-peeling the logs, Pat and Helen Gwin completed and opened the lodge on January 1, 1952.

The historic Gwin's Lodge is one of the oldest log roadhouses in Alaska and is still in operation today.

The Cooper Landing Post Office is the oldest building in the area that is still used and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

[3][4] Cooper Landing is located in the north-central part of the Kenai Peninsula at 60°29′26″N 149°47′40″W / 60.49056°N 149.79444°W / 60.49056; -149.79444 (60.490529, -149.794519).

The CDP extends east up Kenai Lake beyond the mouth of Quartz Creek from the north.