Area originally inhabited by the Cowlitz Tribe. Many of their graves were relocated when the Mayfield Dam was completed and flooded the canyon. The state park was originally named Mayfield Lake State Park, but the name was changed in 1971 to honor Ike Kinswa, a Cowlitz Tribal member who represented his people in the legal struggles with Tacoma Power as the utility used eminent domain to acquire most of land under and around the reservoir.