J.B.R. Cooper was a Monterey sea captain and merchant who came to California in 1823. In 1834, he acquire land from to Juan Bautista Alvarado and began to build a ranch.

The Cooper Cabin is the oldest surviving ranch structure as well as the oldest building on the Big Sur Coast.

When we visited Andrew Molera State Park in May 2018, the trail to the cabin was closed for maintenance, but the cabin was clearly visible from Highway 1.