If the Forest Service considers all the infrastructure currently in place, she said its greater than 15 acres based on a preliminary assessment. Holland Lake Lodge set to be sold to Missoula tech exec who plans to expand, extend season. Holland Lake Lodge, Inc. and its joint venture partner, POWDR, announced that they have submitted a Master Development Plan (MDP) to the U.S. Forest Service to improve accommodations at Holland Lake Lodge, a rustic lakeside resort located in the Swan Valley, which was originally built in 1924 and last updated in 1947. Montana Public Radio | Construction, reconstruction, decommissioning, or disposal of buildings, infrastructure, or improvements at an existing recreation site, including infrastructure or improvements that are adjacent or connected to an existing recreation site and provide access or utilities for that site. The current nightly rate for two people is $340, including meals. Cover page of the Holland Lake Lodge expansion proposal. The Holland Lake area is already heavily impacted. Renewing Holland Lake Lodge for the next 100 years of solitude and recreation. On Thursday, the Swan Lake Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest announced that it was taking public comment on a proposal to expand the Holland Lake Lodge facility near Seeley Lake. My daughter is in the Navy stationed in Okinawa. If you are using a mobile device, the setting for "Allow cross-website tracking" must also be enabled to view the documents. Scale back, one commenter wrote. We believe Holland Lake Lodge, Inc., has already violated its USFS Term Special Use Permit by its transactions with POWDR Corporation, reads the Nov. 15 memo and records review addressed to interested parties.. He has said he believes POWDR has the resources and vision to execute, as well as the ethic to do so responsibly, unlike some other organizations that have shown interest in the lodge. And that is a sad state of affairs.. a product of First Street Foundation. We see an opportunity to make needed improvements to the Lodge to ensure its a place where the public is able to experience the area and be touched in the same way we are. Please subscribe to keep reading. But thousands of people have already submitted comments based on the original plan, Lombardi said: What is the administrative procedure now that they dont know? POWDR has built its brand on the premise of delivering soulful experiences that matter to guests and reflect the local community. Construction could start as early as 2023. As a resort company known for its ski hills seeks to expand the 1940s historic Holland Lake Lodge, locals are pushing back. buy a gift card items available: A career in the insurance industry doesn't exactly sound "sexy," but one Missoula firm is giving its employees generous benefits and career gr. Our plan will not, however, compromise on scale as a smaller lodge with fewer, more expensive lodging options would not align with our mission of making the outdoors more accessible to a broader spectrum of customer. She declined to confirm POWDR is in control of the lodge and didnt discuss the ownership structure. Kalispell mental health clinic closes, leaving 200 patients without care, Racicot: preserving democracy outweighs party politics, House OKs a broadly written 'parental rights' bill. What will happen to water quality? The additional months of tourism would positively impact the surrounding communities and businesses, as visitors come and help power the local economies. And thats what this plan is.. District: Swan Lake Ranger District Project Documents Use the widget below to browse documents associated with this project. You may also be interested in single family homes and condo/townhomes that sold in popular zip codes like 60148, 60647, or neighboring cities, such as Chicago, Naperville, La Grange, Berwyn, Downers Grove. Flathead National Forest Supervisor Kurt Steele issued a letter in November essentially telling POWDR to try again, citing inaccuracies and inconsistencies within the companys proposal. However, one week following a contentious public meeting about the proposal, Flathead National Forest Public Information Officer Tami MacKenzie said the Forest Service will conduct some type of environmental review, although the agency has not determined the extent of it, nor is it legally bound to complete an environmental study. In a brief email Thursday in response to questions about the permit and arrangement between POWDR and Wohlfeil, POWDR spokesperson Stacey Hutchinson disputed any changes, ostensibly to the special use permit. Another worries a bigger lodge would attract wealthier visitors that could push valley residents out. A Missoula entrepreneur is under contract to purchase the historic Holland Lake Lodge in the Swan Valley north of Seeley Lake and plans to extend its season, install eco-yurts and perhaps. Holland Lake Lodge is about three miles to east of the Montana HWY 83. The LLC, in turn, has a concession agreement with the lodge, which the memo said allows the lodge to utilize the license that was formerly in its own name.. The expansion proposal discusses a project of 15 acres. Construction, reconstruction, decommissioning, or disposal of buildings, infrastructure, or improvements at an existing recreation site, including infrastructure or improvements that are adjacent or connected to an existing recreation site and provide access or utilities for that site. In the meantime, Lombardi pointed to grizzly bears, lynx, bull trout, elk, loons, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, and said they all merit a rigorous environmental review. Want to bring a larger group to the Lodge?Book all of our rooms and cabins to enjoy a uniquely private, personalized get-together for $5565 per night. Hutchinson declined to provide specifics, but said many community members have approached POWDR privately to express support for its plans at Holland Lake. The Flathead National Forest is taking scoping comments onthe development planuntil Sept. 21 and will hold a public meeting just to provide information at the Holland Lake Lodge from 5-7 p.m. on Sept. 8. In the meantime, Holland Lake Lodge is marching forward. The environment and ecosystems where we work and operate is our top priority and we have no desire to conduct business in a way that undermines that. So we have people going out to do the mapping portion of it, she said. Next Milestone: The original lodge was built on the shore of Holland Lake in 1924 but was consumed by a fire in 1946. The Daily Montanan is a nonprofit, nonpartisan source for trusted news, commentary and insight into statewide policy and politics beneath the Big Sky. She also said the Forest Service will conduct an environmental assessment at a minimum if the expansion moves forward, contrary to an earlier preliminary decision to exempt the proposal from a thorough environmental review. Contact reporter Laura Lundquist atlundquist@missoulacurrent.com. One of its most striking attributes is actually something its missing noise. The expansion proposal has drawn significant opposition, in part because of the resorts location in the Swan Valley and its possible effects on grizzly bears, water quality and other resources. Improvements at the Holland Lake Lodge and the East Holland Lake Connector Trailhead would offer the opportunity to satisfy some of the increased demand for outdoor recreation on public lands in the Swan and Flathead Valleys.. In the case of a change of control, the permit notes an application for a new permit must be submitted, but the Forest Service is not obligated to grant one. For one, a group that formed to fight the expansion on public land noted the number of acres currently permitted 10.53 acres, according to the Forest Service wasnt presented accurately at first. Christian Wohlfeil started managing the Holland Lake Lodge in 1999 and bought the property three years later. Flathead National Forest is proposing facility expansion of Holland Lake Lodge. GreatSchool Ratings compare a school's test performance to statewide results. In their plan, property owners requested an exception, called a categorical exclusion, from a full scale environmental review, and the Forest Service said its initial decision is to grant the request. KALISPELL Authorities have arrested a man in connection with a fatal shooting in northwest Montana. Currently, he said the lodging range is estimated at $200 to $240 a night for a smaller cabin that sleeps two people, and $400 to $450 a night for a cabin that sleeps four to six, not including meals (no glamping, he said). There has been no change since we (Powdr) originally partnered with Christian and Holland Lake, LLC, Hutchinson said in the email. The public is confused, and now the Forest Service is confused. More than 6,500 public comments have been submitted to the Forest Service, and Save Holland Lake estimated nearly 99 percent of them opposed the project. Were trying to look at the long term future and have the lodge be viable for the future, Wohlfeil said. Similarly, when Blacktail. Learn more about proposed improvement plans and how you can weigh in below. If thats the case, the Forest Service wont conduct an environmental assessment or impact statement, and the scoping period will be the only opportunity for the public to provide comment. At this point, I wouldnt trust them to walk my dog, Hahn said. Read about our leadership team. Christian Wohlfeil, the present owner for the last 20 years, has partnered with a phenomenal company to transition the Lodge to the next chapter. Plans include increasing occupancy by adding a new lodge, new cabins and smaller studio cabins, with the goal of keeping nightly rates accessible. The current nightly rate for two people is $340, including meals. Take a look through some of the beautiful views and experiences the Lodge offers. The 2020 U.S. Census pinned its population at 285. We very much look forward to doing that and continuing to work with the USFS, as well as the public, during the process. The lodge was built in 1924 but burned down in 1946 and was rebuilt in 1947. So we have to ask for as much as we want to do now, he said. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. DEQ said if they both are acceptable, they may be used to serve the development in the future. "It was an amazing opportunity," said new owner Michael Gardner. Thousands of people submitted online comments to the Forest Service regarding POWDRs proposed project, the vast majority of which were against the expansion. I think the next step is for us to really get deep into the public comment, MacKenzie said. The five-year plan is to be healthy and profitable and use the revenues to build a new lodge down the road.. Holland Lake Lodge, Inc. Master Development Plan details building and infrastructure improvements, enhancing the visitor experience, within the current permitted area. Two years from now, what will their next proposal be?. The original lodge was built on the shore of Holland Lake in 1924 but was consumed by a fire in 1946. It will prioritize renewable energy and precautions to prevent negative water, air, or soil impacts. There was a problem saving your notification. This week, a group that formed to oppose the expansion released a petition asking the Forest Service to "protect Montana from industrial tourism and commercial recreation on our public land" by not granting the permit. . *30 guests or less. She said she didnt know if a lawsuit would end up being filed, but one of the concerns with granting an exception to an environmental assessment or more in depth environmental impact statement is work can start right away and the proposal notes changes will begin in 2023. The Forest Service announced the Holland Lake Lodge expansion proposal this fall. Currently, he said the lodging range is estimated at $200 to $240 a night for a smaller cabin that sleeps two people, and $400 to $450 a night for a cabin that sleeps four to six, not including. The property was listed for sale for $4 million, but the final sale price wasnt disclosed. I ran operations for the Montana Food Bank Network and then met (local video and internet entrepreneur) Hank Green, he said. I want to get other investors on board and open the opportunity to other Montanans, he explained. She said Thursday she anticipates a decision will be made in the next week or two. As always, we are grateful to the community and all those who have made comments and welcome their feedback regarding our plans at www.hollandlakefuture.com. She said the request from Holland Lake Lodge was for 15 acres the plan notes a wastewater area of 3.8 acres is separate but it appears to be currently permitted for 10.53 acres. Before joining States Newsroom Montana, she served as city editor of the Missoulian, the largest news outlet in western Montana. 1947 Holland Lake Lodge Rd, Condon MT 59826. Oops! The Bob Marshall Wilderness was named for Bob Marshall, the . We have enough people here to make a civilization, but its not a city, and nobody wants that here, Parcell said. Lawmakers vote down four proposals to make judicial elections partisan. View 127 homes that sold recently in Brookfield, IL with a median transaction price of $257,000 at realtor.com. This home has a n/a noise level for the surrounding area. Treating yourself or a loved one to a stay at the Lodge, or items in our gift shop, is now easier than ever. Thursday, a Flathead National Forest spokesperson said mapping is underway to clarify the acreage currently in use. Learn More Stay But citing public records, the memo from Corn and Browder identifies changes it alleges already place control of Holland Lake Lodge in the hands of POWDR. Forest Supervisor Kurt Steele signed the document as well. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. PublishedDecember 28, 2022 at 6:00 AM MST. Austin graduated from the University of Montanas journalism program in May 2022. Frequent letters to the editor in newspapers across western Montana show voices in opposition to the project. Breakfast Lunch dinner wine bar Dinner Served nightly from 5:45 - 8:45pm Reservations are recommended for dinner. 3 night minimum. Recently sold homes in Brookfield, IL had a median listing home price of $330,000. Wohlfeil, majority owner of the lodge, said his interest is in selling the property to an owner who has the ability to invest in much needed upgrades and who shares his values of stewardship. "It's a very healthy business and it's in the . This includes Holland Lake Lodge where guests have been coming for generations.". Public comment might not do much to change the project. POWDR, a Utah company identified as future owner of Holland Lake Lodge, is already in control of the Swan Valley resort, allege a couple of lawyers who are opponents of a lodge expansion proposal in a memo and review of public records. The Forest Service announced the Holland Lake Lodge. He also said the project represents one of the tensions in a state thats growing. It was an amazing opportunity, said new owner Michael Gardner. In Montana, liquor licenses can be sold for tens of thousands of dollars. POWDRs vice president of communications Stacey Hutchinson told MTPR the company is listening to feedback from the public before it makes its next proposal. But the memo also alleges a U.S. Forest Service permit in use by Holland Lake Lodge is no longer valid because changes to control of the resort voided the agreement. You can cancel at any time. At the public meeting last week, Flathead Forest Supervisor Kurt Steele admitted to the public the Forest Service initially presented the scope of the project as a footprint of 15 acres, same as the current resort, according to the Missoulian. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. A 2022 report to the Montana Secretary of States Office from Holland Lake Lodge identifies Sibley and Tim Brennwald, of the same Park City address, as officers of the company. With six cabins and nine rooms, the Lodge has plenty of options for accommodations that help you experience Holland Lake and the surrounding area to the fullest during your all-inclusive stay. However, spokesperson Tami MacKenzie said the Forest Service will continue to evaluate the issue. For example, he said hes never waterskied on the lake even though he grew up with the sport, and he could legally rent out jet skis, but he doesnt. The US Forest Service and POWDR are doing environmental assessments and welcome public feedback about their improvement project. Holland Lake Lodge operates on public land in the Flathead National Forest under the special use permit, which is valid through 2036. He said the Forest Service needs to confirm the acreage in question. Pitney Bowes, and GreatSchools Independent for reference only. My point is there is demand, Wohlfeil said. Wohlfeil has alwaystoutedthe propertys rustic charm and intimate feel but talked about wanting to make more improvements. For example, the Forest Service estimates peak use at 500 people a night for the campground, group site and Owl Packer Camp, not including the day-use area. Its a Catch-22 because we also need tourism in our state that helps our economy., At the public meeting last week, Flathead Forest Supervisor Kurt Steele admitted to the public the Forest Service initially presented the scope of the project as a footprint of 15 acres, same as the current resort, according to, Forest Service: Holland Lake Lodge expansion plan rejected, POWDR already in charge of Holland Lake Lodge, memo alleges, Flathead National Forest: Decision on Holland Lake likely. There are a lot of people that believe the use of a categorical exclusion would be illegal, said Akland, a lawyer for the Center for Biological Diversity. * We will begin accepting group reservations for our 2023 season this October. She said that type of exception can be used for expanding a toilet or a shower facility or replacing a chairlift. Over the years, he said hes worked 70 or 80 hours a week at the lodge and worn every hat, so its not easy for him to hear impassioned public comment against the expansion. Guests enjoy breathtaking sunsets, the fresh mountain air over the lake, hikes to the roaring falls, and delicious dinners. His input and local knowledge and experience was critical to development of the initial plan. No one I talked to during my visit to Condon expressed support for POWDRs plans. But the Forest Service later said the permit was for 10.53 acres, and Thursday, MacKenzie said the agency still needs to confirm the acreage in question. Currently, he said the lodging range is estimated at $200 to $240 a night for a smaller cabin that sleeps two people, and $400 to $450 a night for a cabin that sleeps four to six, not including meals ("no glamping," he said). Brookfield Properties is lead by a group of innovative leaders, bringing fresh perspective to the real estate industry. In our resubmittal, we will support the Forest Services recommendation to conduct an Environmental Assessment. Holland Lake Lodge operates on public land in the Flathead National Forest under the special use permit, which is valid through 2036. The memo also notes Utah Secretary of State records show POWDRs address in Park City as the same one listed as the legal address for the lodge by the Montana Secretary of States Office as of April 2021. Its well-loved and now must be well-cared for by a team with the knowledge and resources to renovate these spaces while retaining the character that makes them special. The MDP proposes to restore the old lodge, add buildings, and upgrade infrastructure within the existing 15-acre permit area. Thursday, a Forest Service spokesperson was traveling and unavailable to fully address questions about the validity of the permit. As a result, the Forest Service must approve all modifications. Gardner, who lives in Missoula, said hes always done things at a much more accelerated pace than many people. Otherwise, consider buying a gift card for you or a loved one. 8 myths about renting you should stop believing immediately, 6 ways home buyers mess up getting a mortgage, 6 reasons you should never buy or sell a home without an agent, Difference between agent, broker & Realtor, Real estate agents reveal the toughest home buyers they've ever met, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Furnished Description: Dishwasher, Disposal, Dryer, Freezer, Microwave, Range, Refrigerator, Washer, Other Structures: Barn, Cabin(s), Guest Quarters, Shed(s), Lot Description: Deck, Dock, Fence, Landscaped, Porch, Calculated Total Monthly Association Fees: 0. It cites as one example termination upon change of control of the business entity.. Source Property Type: Single Family Residence. Following an outbreak of more than 50 cases of measles near the Washington/Oregon border last week, doctors and nurses at Community Medical Ce, In Montana, its illegal to drive a car or ride as a passenger without a seat belt, yet seat belts are not required onschool buses that trans. I just have no trust there.. Justin Sibley, CEO of POWDR, said the changes would be soulful. Gardners plan is to attract investors, starting at $25,000, and to reinvest profits back into the property. Recreation sites include but are not limited to campgrounds . The liquor license was transferred for $1,000, according to the DOR record. Corn and Browder, who live in Ravalli County, said they discussed their opposition to the project and subsequently conducted the review; they did the work independently of the Save Holland Lake group, which formed to fight the expansion.