As a resort company known for its ski hills seeks to expand the 1940s historic Holland Lake Lodge, locals are pushing back. 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. 406.754.2282. [email protected]. However, it said corporations regularly try to get around ownership and control provisions, and it alleges the Forest Service has been remiss in its lack of scrutiny of the joint venture and the parties arrangements. We will share more information on the NEPA process when its available. 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 find partners for music festivals. Harzardous waste compliance actions; Facility improvements/construction; Forest vegetation improvements; Heritage resource management; Special use authorizations; Road improvements/construction, Project Milestones Public comment might not do much to change the project. The lodge sits in a grizzly corridor, so Wohlfeil said he can submit a proposal, or master development plan, to the Forest Service just once every 10 years. Yeah, I just dont think theyll stay, Shirley Hahn said. by Keila Szpaller, Daily Montanan October 15, 2022. By proceeding, you consent to receive calls and texts at the This includes Holland Lake Lodge where guests have been coming for generations.". That means the current proposal should include anticipated expansion plans for the next decade, he said. We dont get the opportunity to make sure theyre considering all the important resources.. A proposed tuition freeze for Montana students flew past one hurdle this week in Helena. Renewing Holland Lake Lodge for the next 100 years of solitude and recreation. In addition,the East Holland Lake Connector Trailhead parking area would be expanded up to 3 acres. Holland Lake Lodge is located along the shores of majestic Holland Lake on 10.53 acres of US Forest Service land with a perpetual, renewable special use permit. I ran operations for the Montana Food Bank Network and then met (local video and internet entrepreneur) Hank Green, he said. I would encourage everyone to just continue through this process with us and see where it ends up.. Recreation sites include but are not limited to campgrounds and camping areas, picnic areas, day use areas, fishing sites, interpretive sites, visitor centers, trailheads, ski areas, and observation sites. Mark Hodge, McCain's marketing director, said: 'When we saw how popular cooking our chips in air fryers had become, it was a no-brainer to move quickly to include air fryer instructions.' Its a Catch-22 because we also need tourism in our state that helps our economy.. DEIJ Policy | Ethics Policy | Privacy Policy. 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, Before You Buy, Look for Red Flags in the Neighborhood, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). 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). *30 guests or less. We remain steadfast and optimistic to fulfill the vision for Holland Lake Lodge that many Montana residents, and other Americans support. Thursday, a Flathead National Forest spokesperson said mapping is underway to clarify the acreage currently in use. The memo states it is not suggesting POWDR has acted illegally. 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. You can cancel at any time. But the big white signs with blue text that read Hands off Holland represent a campaign of a different kind. There will be the addition of some new structures to add capacity. Flathead National Forest All Units, Notice and Comment Regulation Lead Management Unit In our resubmittal, we will support the Forest Services recommendation to conduct an Environmental Assessment. Holland Lake Lodge is best known for our dinners featuring fresh, local, seasonal ingredients. Breakfast Lunch dinner wine bar Dinner Served nightly from 5:45 - 8:45pm Reservations are recommended for dinner. Wohlfeil, who has owned the lodge for 20 years, recently sold minority shares to POWDR, a ski resort and adventure life company, in anticipation of a full transfer in the future. A career in the insurance industry doesn't exactly sound "sexy," but one Missoula firm is giving its employees generous benefits and career gr. Holland Lake Lodge is a rustic lakeside resort with genuine Montana charm, surrounded by stunning views of two mountain ranges, a pristine lake, and a 100-foot waterfall. Gardner, who lives in Missoula, said hes always done things at a much more accelerated pace than many people. How much acreage is permitted anyway? The acreage is a complicated one, she said. She also said questions about acreage still need to be answered, and figuring out boundaries is not straightforward. Treating yourself or a loved one to a stay at the Lodge, or items in our gift shop, is now easier than ever. Daily Montanan is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. 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. The process has been fouled up from the beginning.. So we have 100 years of permits for this thing, and no two permits are really giving us the same layout and acreage.. Laura Lundquist (Missoula Current) Two years' worth of emails indicate the Flathead National Forest has collaborated since late 2020 with the buyers of Holland Lake Lodge in a manner that breeds mistrust for some members of the public. Some members of the public have called for him to scale back the project, and Wohlfeil said its possible to downsize, but doing so would mean pushing up rates for the project to pencil out. 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. Montana people are sort of sensitive to all the people moving in and all the crowds coming with Covid, he said. Hutchinson declined to provide specifics, but said many community members have approached POWDR privately to express support for its plans at Holland Lake. Theyll have to move, and where are they going to move? Typically, the exception means no EIS and no environmental assessment. The area brings a sense of community values and is true to Montana roots. The current proposed updates to the infrastructure would be more sustainable for the lake as they are made to help with conservation and environmental protection. In the first season, there will be some changes but nothing too big, Gardner said. Holland Lake Lodge is a rustic lakeside resort nestled between the Swan and Mission mountain ranges, with access to a number of incredible outdoor recreation opportunities. A few miles down the road from the mercantile, Shirley and Loyd Hahn live in a log home. "It's a very healthy business and it's in the . This process has been confusing from the beginning, said Bill Lombardi, with Save Holland Lake, the group opposing the expansion and calling for greater scrutiny. This Master Development Plan is intended to preserve the spirit and integrity of what is here, while upgrading facilities so we can share this place with guests for years to come, Wohlfeil saidin a statement. Together, they look forward to expanding guest services and activities, while preserving the unique and special character of what is here now. The group that formed to oppose the project, Save Holland Lake, has said the Forest Service itself contributed to confusion and public distrust after it misstated the acreage covered in the current permit. Siloti says it didnt take long for requests for copies of the Hands Off Holland sign to start pouring in. He also said the project represents one of the tensions in a state thats growing. Join us for a laid-back breakfast or lunch, or come in the evening for a sophisticated menu featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients, as well as an extensive selection of quality wines and cocktails. If he was starting from scratch, he said, he would understand the call for a full environmental study, but the Forest Service suggested the owners ask for a categorical exclusion because the resort is already in operation. The current nightly rate for two people is $340, including meals. My hope is that a new owner really preserves how special everything is and brings it up to 2020, Wohlfeil told the Daily Interlake in 2019. In Montana, liquor licenses can be sold for tens of thousands of dollars. We are confident that any analysis, driven by data, science, and the experts at the Flathead Forest, will support our Master Development Plan going forward. * We will begin accepting group reservations for our 2023 season this October. The Bob Marshall Wilderness was named for Bob Marshall, the . We will share more of those details in the coming weeks. The fact is: There is wildlife including grizzlies, black bears, wolverines, lynx, bull trout, bats and loons that will surely be affected by the construction of a 13,000-square foot, 3,000 square-foot restaurant, 26 cabins and "bunkies," additional outbuildings and employee housing, parking lots and floating docks. Not Subject to Regulations, Project Activity Kristine Akland, with the Center for Biological Diversity, said the Forest Services preliminary decision to grant a categorical exclusion doesnt square with a proposal to possibly triple capacity at the lodge. Seriously. Grace Siloti and her husband own and operate Mission Mountains Mercantile. 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. email, from realtor.com and, Home buyers reveal: 'What I wish I had known before buying my first home', Selling your home? After the sale, Gardner said he was looking for whats next., I stumbled upon this opportunity, he said. However, spokesperson Tami MacKenzie said the Forest Service will continue to evaluate the issue. The main lodge (9 guest. The current plan does not mention helicopter skiing, but Akland said that doesnt preclude the company from making a request in the future. 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 original lodge was built on the shore of Holland Lake in 1924 but was consumed by a fire in 1946. Theyre beautiful and well-loved for their rustic charm and serene landscape. Contact reporter Laura Lundquist [email protected]. 1947 Holland Lake Lodge Rd, Condon MT 59826. While we believe there will not be adverse impact to the environment, the mechanism for how to evaluate the impacts against NEPA guidelines has always been less important to us than the conclusion. To verify enrollment eligibility, contact the school or district directly. The public is confused, and now the Forest Service is confused. Planned upgrades for the wastewater and sewage systems, non-motorized boat docks and employee housing will improve guest experience and ensure that those working at the lodge have clean, safe accommodations. As a resort company known for its ski hills seeks to expand the 1940s historic Holland Lake Lodge, locals are pushing back. 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. Cookies must be enabled to use this tool. One resident told me she worries the lodge would harm the quality of the watershed. It was an amazing opportunity, said new owner Michael Gardner. Its just a very pristine valley that has all kinds of wildlife, so were just puzzled and concerned why the Forest Service one, would propose a categorical exclusion, and two, didnt tell anyone until September when theyve had this planned until at least April of this year, Lombardi said. I think the next step is for us to really get deep into the public comment, MacKenzie said. 8717, 1947 Holland Lake Lodge Rd, Condon, MT 59826, 2023 by POWDR. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics. He came to MTPR as an evening newscast intern that summer, and jumped at the chance to join full-time as the stations morning voice in Fall 2022. The Hahns have a long relationship with the lodge Lloyd would house customers for his outfitting business there, and Shirley says she would kayak with friends and pull up to shore for a drink. Its a place where many Montanans have spent their family weekends and vacations. I want to get other investors on board and open the opportunity to other Montanans, he explained. Located on the north side of Holland Lake near the East Holland Connector Trail (trail# 415) Trailhead. 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. My point is there is demand, Wohlfeil said. A permit provision states specific conditions terminate the permit without any action by the authorized officer, or Forest Supervisor. In addition, several new buildings will be added, including a 13,000-square-foot lodge with 28 rooms, a 3,000-square-foot restaurant, a 2,000-square-foot welcome center for check-in, 10 650-square-foot cabins, 16 smaller studio cabins and new support buildings for maintenance and employee housing. POWDR has said that the expanded lodge will allow the company to open access for more people to enjoy Montanas outdoor spaces. But, to Parcell, that argument just doesnt work. Christian Wohlfeil started managing the Holland Lake Lodge in 1999 and bought the property three years later. As of Sunday, more than 2,800 people . Guests enjoy breathtaking sunsets, the fresh mountain air over the lake, hikes to the roaring falls, and delicious dinners. POWDR has built its brand on the premise of delivering soulful experiences that matter to guests and reflect the local community. He says he fears Condons all-volunteer emergency services could be overwhelmed by the added strain the larger lodge could produce. Although he admits the capacity at the lodge would be at least twice its current limit, he also said the number of additional visitors should be viewed in the context of all of the use at the lake. At meetings and in public comment, many members of the public also decried the agencys initial decision to excuse the project from a thorough environmental review by granting a categorical exclusion. However, MacKenzies email Thursday noted the agency will conduct at least an environmental assessment if the project moves ahead. Driving north from Seeley Lake to Condon, the first sign pops up about 6 miles before the turn onto Holland Lake Road. Were trying to look at the long term future and have the lodge be viable for the future, Wohlfeil said. Austin graduated from the University of Montanas journalism program in May 2022. KALISPELL Authorities have arrested a man in connection with a fatal shooting in northwest Montana. 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. But the plan has not been popular with the public, in part because the Forest Service said it may not complete a full environmental assessment or more extensive environmental impact statement, or EIS, before approving the project. 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. (Daily Montanan) 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. Gardner grew up in Scobey and used to split his time between there and California until he came to Missoula in 2005 to visit his sister, who was in law school, and wound up crashing on her couch. 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. The current permit identifies Holland Lake Lodge as the holder and lists Wohlfeil as owner of the lodge. 3 night minimum. Holland Lake Lodge is a rustic lakeside resort nestled between the Swan and Mission mountain ranges, with access to a number of incredible outdoor recreation opportunities. 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.. 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. The busiest spot on a recent December day was a gas station and convenience store at the north end of town. Gardners plan is to attract investors, starting at $25,000, and to reinvest profits back into the property. Rates include lodging, daily housekeeping, meals (three course dinner, breakfast and lunch), 8% Montana hotel tax, wireless internet, Bonfire wood, and a 20% service charge on all incidentals. Adjacent to Holland Lake Lodge is the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, which makes up an area of more than 1.5 million acres, a vast landscape of habitat for the Grizzly bear, lynx, wolverine, deer, elk, gray wolf, moose, black bear, mountain lion, mountain goat, and mountain sheep. The key thing is reinvesting profits back into the company. The same Secretary of State report strikes out references to Wohlfeil. Neither the Forest Service nor Wohlfeil or Hutchinson answered a question Thursdsay about when or whether POWDR or Wohlfiel notified the federal agency of changes. Its a very healthy business and its in the most beautiful place in the whole world.. Due to an increase of people visiting and living in the Swan and Flathead Valleys, it is desirable to upgrade public facilities and enhance access to the outdoors in areas of the Flathead National Forest designated for focused recreation activities, Steele wrote in a Sept. 1 letter to interested parties. Construction could start as early as 2023. 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. I had people come up to me after the public meetings I was at in early October and say that they were worried that if they said anything positive in support of our efforts, that their cabin would be burned down, Hutchinson said. Just this summer, he said he received 4,000 inquiries via email alone about cabins, and he was sold out from April through September. In the meantime, the Nov. 15 memo from Corn and Browder calls into question the validity of the current permit itself, issued May 2017. The 2020 U.S. Census pinned its population at 285. It will prioritize renewable energy and precautions to prevent negative water, air, or soil impacts. Holland Lake Lodge is located along the shores of majestic Holland Lake on 10.53 acres of US Forest Service land with a perpetual, renewable special use permit. So, I guess theres a tradeoff, Parcell says, Do you want to destroy what youre coming to see? He lives just down the road from Holland Lake at the south end of town. The information we have been given to date still has Christian Wohlfeil as the majority owner of Holland Lake Incorporated, MacKenzie said in an email. Learn More Stay Claim your home and get an email whenever there's an The lodge was built in 1924 but burned down in 1946 and was rebuilt in 1947. In earlier interviews, Wohlfeil has said the property needs significant investment in infrastructure upgrades in order to operate sustainably for future generations. The five-year plan is to be healthy and profitable and use the revenues to build a new lodge down the road.. Our plan will also incorporate several modifications that came from the previous public comment period - constructive ideas from those who want the best for the Lodge and the land. Notice of Initiation (09/01/2022) 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. He said POWDR, based in Utah, can make the investments necessary to build an eco-friendly resort, upgrade parts of the property in disrepair, and maintain it all. Holland Lake Lodge Experience Spectacular Solitude at Holland Lake Lodge, Montana's Hidden Gem Holland Lake Lodge is a rustic lakeside resort with genuine Montana charm, surrounded by stunning views of two mountain ranges, a pristine lake, and a 100-foot waterfall. My daughter is in the Navy stationed in Okinawa. We recently received a request from the U.S. Forest Service to provide more detail on our Master Development Plan. Holland Lake provides a beautiful backdrop to any private gathering. If you are using a mobile device, the setting for "Allow cross-website tracking" must also be enabled to view the documents. POWDR - an adventure lifestyle corporation based in Park City, Utah, that owns 10 ski resorts, including Snowbird in Utah, Copper Mountain in Colorado and Killington in Vermont - soon stepped in. . A 2022 report to the Montana . He wants to eventually extend the operating season from 135 days to 220 days, from April 1 through Oct. 30, and to be open the week of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Something went wrong while submitting the form. The two have been in business together for 13 years, and know just about everyone in Condon. There was a problem saving your notification. Lawmakers vote down four proposals to make judicial elections partisan. Altogether, the facility hosted up to 45 guests during the summer months, making it a popular spot for weddings and other events looking for that authentic Montana feel. One dog-gone expensive hound is slated to be stationed near the entrance to Missoulas newest dog park.
