The 186-acre (75 ha) park was established in 1944 to preserve the estate of American humorist Will Rogers, including his ranch and the surrounding countryside.

The ranch became a State Park in 1944 after the death of Mrs. Rogers, and the house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

The ranch has been in many movies and television shows, including Star Trek IV, in which it stood in for Golden Gate Park.

The living room of the main ranch house included a collection of Native American rugs and baskets, and several original Western art works by Charles M. Russell and Ed Borein.

Since 2006, the nature and historic interpretive goals of WRSHP under California State Parks operation have been amplified by stewardship and fundraising from the non-profit Will Rogers Ranch Foundation (WRRF).