the working name for the park was washington county state park, but was later changed to hare's canyon state park. in 2005, it was changed to the current name which honors the memory of lumberman and state representative loren lasells "stub" stewart, who had died in january of that year. he had served an extended time on the oregon parks and recreation commission, the co-owner of lumber company and a noted philanthropist. the park opened mountain bike-only trails in june 2012, the first in the state.