The Plumas Ski Club began operation of the Plumas-Eureka Ski Bowl at it's present site during the season of 1957-58. However, the history of skiing in the Plumas County area of the northern Sierra dates back to 1860. Very few people realize that this distinguishes the mountains between Johnsville and LaPorte as the oldest recorded sport skiing in the western hemisphere.

During the later portion of the 19th century, historic towns in Plumas and Sierra counties including LaPorte,Howland, Flat, Port Wine and Johnsville served as popular winter playgrounds for skiers. Only the Johnsville area continues to serve both locals and visitors as a site for the increasingly popular Nordic and telemark style skiing as well as alpine and downhill skiing.

By 1863, Gold Mountain, now known as Eureka Peak, above the then thriving mining town of Johnsville had a down-the-hill ski run of 2600 feet. An early day "longboard" ski racer was reported to have reached a speed of 90 mph. According to oral history, the mining ore buckets going up Gold Mountain were used by skiers as possibly the first ski-lift in the world.

In 1937, two young Quincy men designed the first real ski lift in Plumas County. Unfortunately, they built the lift on the lower slopes of Mt Washington in an avalanche path. The lift was eventually relocated to the steep slopes behind the Plumas-Eureka StampMill. At one time the present Plumas-Eureka State Park museum served as a ski lodge.

In 1950 the Plumas Ski Club was organized as a non-profit organization by skiers from Blairsden, Portola and Quincy. The Ski Club was involved in promoting both downhill and cross country skiing and ran a rope tow near the museum until 1954. In 1955 the Ski Club moved the rope tow to the present site in Eureka Bowl which had historically been used for skiing in the 19th century.

Over the years, members of the Ski Club have contributed money and labor to develop the Plumas-Eureka Ski Bowl. As years passed, a warming hut was built and the lifts were expanded to include the present day poma lifts.

In 1959, Plumas-Eureka Ski Bowl became part of the state park.

1800's-Miners Hold ski races, on 14 foot "longboards", near current location of the ski bowl. Alturas ski club, forerunner to the Plumas Ski Club, is formed. These are the first organized downhill ski races in North America. Ski clubs form professional race circuit in the "Lost Sierra " region.

1950- Plumas Ski Club formed.

 1950- Rope tow installed near current museum location.

1955- Rope tow was moved to current Ski Bowl location.

 1957- Purchased a used military half-track ( $500 ). Tried to tow skiers from Johnsville to the ski hill

with a rope. (There was no access road at this time ). Half track would not operate in deep snow.

 1957- Summer road was installed from Johnsville to present parking lot location. This was a four way effort. 1) Plumas Ski Club members cleared brush from the right-of way; 2) Meadow Valley Lumber Company furnished the bulldozer; 3 ) Plumas National Forest graded the road and .parking lot; 4) Plumas County graveled the road and parking lot.

 1958- Used an old shed as a "warming hut". Capacity was 10 people at a time.

 1958- Plumas County paved access road and parking lot. 1960- Installed second rope tow.

 1962- Installed third rope tow.

 1963- Installed a phone at the ski hill.

 1965- Installed Squaw poma lift ( Purchased from Squaw Valley )

 1965- Built present ski hut.

 1966- Enlarged ski hut and parking lot.

 1967- Developed a spring fed water system and storage tank.

 1968- Added a snack bar and work room to the warming hut. 

  1968- Purchased a used snowcat from Boreal Ridge.                       

1969- Built restrooms.

1970- Installed fourth rope tow.

1973- Purchased second snowcat.

1975- Installed second poma lift. ( Purchased from Rainbow Lodge resort ) and abandoned all but one of the rope tows.                                      

1983-Built a small maintenance garage.                           

1987- Cut brush on all runs. ($5,000 furnished by California Department of Parks).    

1988- Purchased used L.M.C. snowcat. First "modern" groomer at the ski hill.                         

1993- Plumas Ski Club holds a "World championship longboard revival" race. This is the first longboard revival race in a generation. Contestants use replicas of 14 foot long wood skis used in the 1800's. The slogan "Long live longboards" becomes fashionable again.

1994- Cargo van was donated to the ski hill for use as a poma bar repair shed.

1997- The last rope tow is abandoned.

February 1997- Ski club forced to close ski hill due to overwhelming mechanical failures on both poma lifts and both of the generators. (the only power source at the ski hill ). With a $200,000+ repair estimate, the future of the ski hill is uncertain Summer /fall1997- A long term business and capital improvement plan is developed.

November 1997- The Ski club undertakes a major effort to raise funds and volunteers to repair the broken equipment. Hires executive director to manage ski hill, repair lifts, and oversee capital improvement plans.

January 1998- Ski hill reopens with one lift offering skiing on Saturdays only.

March 1998- Against all predicted odds, the ski hill fully reopens with both lifts operating.

April 1998-The effort to reopen the ski hill for the community leaves the ski club $15,000 in debt,after fund raising efforts, and it's resources completely exhausted. The future of continued repairs and upgrades, and the existence of local skiing altogether, lies in the support of the community.

May 1998- The community launches an "all out" effort to raise funds to rejuvenate the ski hill. It is realized that a complete overhaul of the current facilities, capital improvements, and a strong marketing strategy is needed to make the ski area self sufficient. If funding can not be found to perform necessary repairs and maintenance this summer, than the status of skiing in Plumas County will remain questionable.