The Snowstorm Dredge was built by the Bodinson Manufacturing Company in San Francisco, 1939-1941, for Timberline Dredgi near its present location. It is also known as a floating gold washing machine, since it was fed by drag line crane rather than by an attached (or integral) bucket line. It was idle from 1942, when all gold mining operations were shut down under L208 during World War II, until 1947. The dredge was in production for a total of only 16 months before it was finally closed down in 1948. It also operated briefly in 1976. The Snowstorm Dredge retains most of the major elements of its processing system, and the exterior is in good to fair condition.

The history of the Snowstorm was derived from the historical survey done as part of a nomination to the United States Department of Interior, National Park Service, National Register of Historical places.

The chronological historical survey was researched and compiled by Ms. Jane Gilsinger, Park County Local History, Archivist.

The photos used to supplement this historical research were obtained during a South Park Historical Foundation field trip to the Snowstorm in 2013.