Like the surrounding town and county, Chief Logan State Park is named after Chief Logan, a leader of the Native American Mingo tribe who lived in the area before the American Revolutionary War. The park was designated a recreation area in 1960 and became part of the state parks system in 1968. The park also has historical ties to the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. A Kanawha 2700 Class locomotive, donated by the C&O Railroad in 1961, remains on display today.