A little bit of history behind our little community group …

      A way back in 1949 a group of folks got together and formed the Lake Hughes Recreational Association. The inaugural board of directors included Bob Johnson and Joel Hurd.  As stated in the articles of incorporation the purpose of the group was to conduct “fairs, dances, picnics, parades, shows, pageants, barbecues, public meetings, and other similar enterprises.”  The group owned two buildings on land leased from the US Forest Service. Those two buildings were built in the 1930’s and used by the Civilian Conservation Corps as living quarters for men employed to build road improvements in the area.  The main building was the kitchen and barracks building and the upper building now known as Johnson Hall, was the garage and workshop building.  Some of their bridge and culvert work can be seen down Lake Hughes Road.

      Adjacent and to the east of the LHRA leased land was a parcel leased from the Forest Service by the Lake Hughes Sportsman’s Club, founded in 1947.  That property was used as a shooting range for many years.  Some of the elders in our community have fond memories of learning how to shoot there. The Sportsman’s Club eventually faded away and by the 90’s the lease renewal had defaulted and the range had not been used for some years. A horseshoe thrower group built several pits on the site and conducted Sunday morning competitions for several years.  They too have faded away.

      In 1976 the name of Lake Hughes Recreation Association was changed to Lake Hughes Community Club.  It was changed again to Lakes Community Center Association in 1995 in recognition that the Center was key to both the communities of Lake Hughes and Elizabeth Lake and was not an exclusive “club”.

      In 1995 a unique opportunity arose that allowed the Center to purchase the land under its buildings from the Forest Service. Money was raised and the deal was completed to purchase 3 acres. There was consideration at the time to attempt to also purchase the Sportsman’s Club property.  The idea was dismissed though because of the liability that would be taken on for lead contamination of the property as well as lack of funds. The shoot shack on the property burned down in the Powerhouse fire June of 2013.  The property is Forest Service land and has been completely cleared off.  It is not owned by the Community Center though it is sometimes used as such.

      In 2011 Lakes Community Center Association applied to IRS and was approved for tax exemption as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Contributions made to LCCA are tax deductible as a charitable contribution.