During the late 1940's/early 1950’s, a formal camp was built at Jennis Bay by the Welwood Logging Company that boasted over 35 buildings and housed more than 80 people.  The camp resembled a small city with its stately water tower, main electric generating plant, street lamps, cookhouse, motor pool, worker’s quarters, family housing, and executive cabins.

Logging operations ceased on Huaskin Lake in the late 1960’s due to sinking lumber prices and other economic conditions of the time.  Left behind were hundreds of thousands of pieces of fallen cedar logs that drifted aimless around the lake.  In those days, the prime timber was Fir wood; the cedar was left where it fell. 

1970's

In the 1970's, it was the vision of Jerry Major to secure the abandoned property at Jennis Bay and to begin salvage operations of the cedar logs in Huaskin.  This was accomplished by setting up a shake-block and sawmill facility at the Lake “landing” site, and then to transport the processed cedar shakes down to Jennis Bay for shipment to the Vancouver markets.  Parts of this 1970’s era activity is documented in the book, “Flights of a Coast Dog” by floatplane pilot Jack Schoefield.  Copies of the book can be obtained at many book and gift shops along Vancouver Island.

During the late 1970’s (and even after the untimely death of Jerry Major in 1983), the Jennis Bay logging camp was slowly disassembled by directives of the British Columbian Provincial government.  It was the government’s intention to return the site to its original pristine condition. 

Although the era of the logging giants was over, BC Timber Sales has since that time periodically offered sufficiently re-grown blocks for bid by smaller companies (such as Olsen's logging camp).  Thus, Jennis Bay has continued to be a staging area for the lumber industry and where there once stood a large loading dock there is now a "log sort" of crushed rock, complete with two ramp areas for delivery of equipment by barge. 

1980's-1990's

During the 1980’s, the two remaining cabins on the point were inhabited by a prawn-fisherman, Milan Pessika, and his family.  He was the first to secure the official “Licenses of Occupation” for the purpose of running a commercial resort.   His daughter, Rebekah, has since become a renowned artist and her paintings of Jennis Bay are sold in several art galleries in British Columbia.  Rebekah continues to visit Jennis Bay every year during the prawning season, as owner of the prawn business now that her father has retired.

Ultimately, the resort licenses were sold in 1994 to June Schultz (prior operator of the Dalewood Inn Restaurant in Port McNeill).  June was the one to begin the first official resort operations in Jennis Bay, which entailed boat moorage and cabin rentals, as well as restaurant dining and Huaskin Lake excursions for guests.  In 2000, a fire devastated the cabin that housed June's restaurant.  Tragically, June died in 2002 and the Jennis Bay resort licenses and assets were sold by her estate.

The principals of the new company resided on a seasonal basis at Sullivan Bay, a floating resort several miles east of Jennis Bay.  After much consideration, they decided to advertise the sale of the Licenses of Occupation.

2004-Present

Since the passing of Jerry Major in 1983, some of his children have longed to return to Jennis Bay, a place that still holds such enchantment.  When the Resort Licenses came up for sale in 2004, enough interest was generated within the family to purchase them.  With a combined effort and the generous financial backing of eldest son Peter, and other significant parties, the deal was closed on December 6, 2004. 

In May 2005, Jerry's youngest daughter, Allyson Major (now Allo), and her family (husband Tom and children Orion and Charlie Marie) relocated from Idaho to become the Managers and caretakers of the Jennis Bay Project. 

A reunion of sorts occured during the summer of 2005, when many of Jerry's children and his wife, Kay, returned to Jennis Bay to reminisce about the past and dream of the future.