Prior to being a state park, the land belonged to San Miguel del Bado Land grant. San Miguel del Bado Land grant is one of largest Spanish Land grants in New Mexico. The land grant was centered along the Pecos River south of Pecos Pueblo. Villanueva State Park was along one of the trails used by the early Spanish explorers.

In 1967 the Board of Trustees of the San Miguel del Bado grant transferred several tracts of land within Tract 2 to the State of New Mexico in order to establish the core of Villanueva State Park, two miles east of the village of Villanueva. Later the State Park and recreation Commission acquired additional acreage from the land grant board and Bureau of Land Management. Villanueva State Park has three trails and also protects sites related to the historic settlement of the area.

Villanueva State Park is one of the most popular state parks in New Mexico. Villanueva State Park offers a visitor center, camping, allows horseback riding, showers, group shelter, electric hookups, restrooms, fishing, playground, trails, and R.V. Pull through sites.
Make a reservation on the New Mexico State Parks reservation website.