Downhill Skiing on the slopes of Mt. McKay boasts a rich history dating back to the 1930s when the Fort William Ski Club was officially incorporated. The precise founding year remains a bit of a mystery, but evidence suggests that by 1939, the club was already hosting regular events on the mountainside. In its early years, downhill skiing was prevalent, yet ski jumping took centre stage as the primary focus for the Fort William Ski Club on Mt. McKay.

The land that the ski club sat on was owned by the Fort William reserve. Throughout the early years of the ski club, a long-term lease was in place with the reserve. The ski club operated throughout the 1950s and 60s, only operating one or two rope tow lifts.

In a significant turn of events in 1971, the Fort William Ski Club sold the operation to the Fort William band. Capitalizing on a federal grant of $200,000 for tourism and a $100,000 loan, the band embarked on developing a comprehensive four-season resort, which included a winter ski resort. In 1973, the band installed two parallel Poma double chairlifts and a T-Bar. This ushered in a new era of skiing in Thunder Bay, and marked the drastic transformation of Mt. McKay into a thriving ski destination. The band created the company Ojibway Resorts Ltd. as the overseeing entity operating the ski resort. The addition of night lights on numerous runs drew large crowds, adding to the mountain's popularity. 

During this prosperous era, Mt. McKay flourished, generating revenue of $7,000 in its first summer through the offering of scenic chairlift rides. Notably, even Queen Elizabeth II visited Mt. McKay during a royal visit to Canada in 1973. The late 1970s witnessed a significant expansion with the construction of a new Poma double, creating vast intermediate and advanced terrain. This expansion solidified Mt. McKay's standing on the skiing map, offering a well-defined intermediate terrain pod.

In 1982, the introduction of snowmaking technology enhanced the mountain's resilience, providing a more reliable ski season. Despite these advancements, Mt. McKay faced challenges in the 1980s, situated at the base of a massive paper mill that not only obstructed the view but also emitted unpleasant odors when the wind blew in a certain direction.

By the late 1980s, rival skiing destinations such as Loch Lomond and Candy Mountain began attracting the majority of skiers. Loch Lomond, in particular, offered comparable or superior skiing, continually improving with the installation of a new quad chair in 1986. Citing declining numbers and aging infrastructure, the Fort William band made the decision to permanently cease downhill skiing operations on Mt. McKay in 1989.

The mountain's infrastructure was left to deteriorate, with only the removal of the Big Chief chair evident. Subsequently, in the post-2004 period, the main Poma double experienced a catastrophic de-tension. While the base lodge continues to serve various activities, and the base area has been repurposed as a paintball course, there are currently no plans to revive skiing on Mt. McKay.