“Gateway to High Lakes Country”

At about 6,000 feet elevation, the Jones Resort is a historic summer resort in the High Lakes near the edge of the Sierra Nevada Wilderness Area.  It is spectacular country, particularly in mid-Summer.  Beginning in around 1847, Alonzo and Eliza Philbrook, who gave their name to the area, are believed to have driven their cattle from their ranch near Chico into Philbrook Valley (which became Philbrook Reservoirs in 1926) for summer grazing.  The area has had gold mining activity since the Gold Rush up until recent years.

Philbrook Creek runs through the property and into Philbrook Lake.  With its assorted old cabins and general store which dates back to 1857, a lot of great people have summered here for many years.  The property was owned by the same family for …. Until they decided to sell in 2004.  Most rural “resorts” of this type have faded away over time because they are financially difficult to operate and maintain.  Many of the same families have been summering there for many years. One of these families, Tom and Diane Connolly have assumed leadership for the group who summer there. Tom and Diane Connolly has done a real job preserving the natural beauty of this private retreat.

Joyce's dad Leo Willings bought the land in1938 at that time there was one cabin on it. He built the sawmill in 1940 used the timber from the land to build the other cabins in 1948 or 49. He built the store in 1953. I'm not sure when they started calling it Willings Resort either when they built the cabins or the store.
Ed and Joyce took it over in 1970 and put in the camp sites and changed the name to Jones Resort.

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