Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. 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. 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). Theres just not much left.. Holland Lake Lodge operates on public land in the Flathead National Forest under the special use permit, which is valid through 2036. My point is there is demand, Wohlfeil said. Plans include increasing occupancy by adding a new lodge, new cabins and smaller studio cabins, with the goal of keeping nightly rates accessible. The Forest Service announced the Holland Lake Lodge. 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. Holland Lake Lodge, Inc. and its joint venture partner, POWDR, announced that they have submitted aMaster Development Plan (MDP) to the U.S. Forest Serviceto improve accommodations atHolland Lake Lodge, a rustic lakeside resort located in the Swan Valley, which was originally built in 1924 and last updated in 1947. 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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. He also said the project represents one of the tensions in a state thats growing. As proposed, the Master Development Plan will restore the proper foundation and infrastructure to the property. Condon unrolls along an evergreen-lined stretch of Highway 83 a strung-out series of homes, two churches, and a bar and diner. Ive been there, done that. I think the next step is for us to really get deep into the public comment, MacKenzie said. My daughter is in the Navy stationed in Okinawa. 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. The current Lodge and surrounding structures were built in 1947. Another worries a bigger lodge would attract wealthier visitors that could push valley residents out. Plus, he said, the exclusion wont bypass a review, it will allow for a less intensive analysis. And that is a sad state of affairs.. 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. Holland Lake Lodge, Inc. Master Development Plan details building and infrastructure improvements, enhancing the visitor experience, within the current permitted area. This includes Holland Lake Lodge where guests have been coming for generations.". How much acreage is permitted anyway? The expansion proposal discusses a project of 15 acres. I have an attachment myself, but Im also really excited for someone new to come in and do what they want to do.. Condon unrolls along an evergreen-lined stretch of Highway 83 a strung-out series of homes, two churches, and a bar and diner. Holland Lake Lodge is a soulful place, where families spend time in the outdoors with the people they love. by Keila Szpaller, Daily Montanan October 15, 2022. Sign up here for updates and news on the process. Together, they look forward to expanding guest services and activities, while preserving the unique and special character of what is here now. 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.. The project will change the culture and the ecology of the area. 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. PublishedDecember 28, 2022 at 6:00 AM MST. I would encourage everyone to just continue through this process with us and see where it ends up.. 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. email, from realtor.com and, Home buyers reveal: 'What I wish I had known before buying my first home', Selling your home? Last Completed Milestone: Yeah, I just dont think theyll stay, Shirley Hahn said. 03/01/2023), https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61746&exp=detail. She said Thursday she anticipates a decision will be made in the next week or two. Keep in Touch. The additional months of tourism would positively impact the surrounding communities and businesses, as visitors come and help power the local economies. 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. So we have to ask for as much as we want to do now, he said. We will continue to look into this concern regarding current ownership and if something has changed we will take appropriate action.. Holland Lake Lodge is best known for our dinners featuring fresh, local, seasonal ingredients. Just this summer, he said he received 4,000 inquiries via email alone about cabins, and he was sold out from April through September. Hutchinson declined to provide specifics, but said many community members have approached POWDR privately to express support for its plans at Holland Lake. 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. Gardner, 39, recently worked with Missoula real estate agent Shannon Hilliard to buy the property from its longtime former owner. The MDP proposes to restore the old lodge, add buildings, and upgrade infrastructure within the existing 15-acre permit area. At public meetings and in press interviews, POWDR has reiterated that it wants to build that trust with the community. Flathead National Forest All Units, Notice and Comment Regulation number you provided, including marketing by autodialer and prerecorded and artificial voice, and And thats what this plan is.. Construction could start as early as 2023. "It's a very healthy business and it's in the . 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 current nightly rate for two people is $340, including meals. Lawmakers vote down four proposals to make judicial elections partisan. Or do you want to come and enjoy what you came to see? We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. It will prioritize renewable energy and precautions to prevent negative water, air, or soil impacts. 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. On my way out of town, I made one last stop and visited with a resident who says hes not at all surprised by the backlash. 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. The current plan also would winterize the buildings, making Holland Lake Lodge a year-round destination. 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. The US Forest Service and POWDR are doing environmental assessments and welcome public feedback about their improvement project. MacKenzie, with the Flathead National Forest, said the Forest Service has not yet made a decision to use a categorical exclusion. Charming rustic lakeside cabins, a proud main lodge circa 1947, and to-die-for food.. Thanks for subscribing! 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 2020 U.S. Census pinned its population at 285. 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. Like so many others, we marveled at the beauty and realized immediately the uniqueness of Holland Lake, the Lodge, and the surrounding community. An aerial view of the Holland Lake Lodge on Wednesday afternoon is shown. 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. Seriously. Built in 1924 as a small guest accommodation and rebuilt after a fire in 1947, Holland Lake Lodge currently consists of 16 buildings and structures, including a main lodge building, a. 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. At first glance, it looks like residents of Condon have united behind the same candidate for office. 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. Without a liquor license, the Lodge a destination resort that touts fine dining as one of its attractions cant legally sell alcohol, which would likely be a death blow, the memo said. 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). His input and local knowledge and experience was critical to development of the initial plan. Holland Lake Lodge is about three miles to east of the Montana HWY 83. Proudly created with Wix.com, Holland Lake Lodge, Inc. and its joint venture partner, POWDR, announced that they have submitted a. , a rustic lakeside resort located in the Swan Valley, which was originally built in 1924 and last updated in 1947. 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. I want to get other investors on board and open the opportunity to other Montanans, he explained. 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. It lists a mailing address in Park City for the principal office and is signed on behalf of Sibley in a power of attorney capacity. 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. *30 guests or less. 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. The Holland Lake area is already heavily impacted. Flathead National Forest is proposing facility expansion of Holland Lake Lodge. Its a place where many Montanans have spent their family weekends and vacations. Siloti says it didnt take long for requests for copies of the Hands Off Holland sign to start pouring in. Grace Siloti and her husband own and operate Mission Mountains Mercantile. A career in the insurance industry doesn't exactly sound "sexy," but one Missoula firm is giving its employees generous benefits and career gr. 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.' So we have people going out to do the mapping portion of it, she said. The original lodge was built on the shore of Holland Lake in 1924 but was consumed by a fire in 1946. Variations of that theme that the proposed expansion is just too big for Condon emerge as I continued my trip through town. The Lodge offers six charming lakeside cabins and . Grizzly bears? Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. As a resort company known for its ski hills seeks to expand the 1940s historic Holland Lake Lodge, locals are pushing back. 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. After the sale, Gardner said he was looking for whats next., I stumbled upon this opportunity, he said. The main lodge (9 guest rooms, restaurant, bar & lounge), 6 guest cabins, gift shop, newly constructed owner's cabin, and two out-buildings School data provided by National Center for Education Statistics, However, she said typically, a categorical exclusion doesnt include a second period of public comment, but she said the Forest Service will hold one open in this case even if it grants the exception. The same Secretary of State report strikes out references to Wohlfeil. The proposal noted owners Christian Wohlfeil and POWDR, of Park City, Utah, had submitted the joint application to expand and improve the resort. If the project moves forwards, she said the Forest Service will prepare an analysis to present to the public and open another public comment period likely after the first of the year. Holland Lake Lodge, Condon: See 159 traveler reviews, 139 candid photos, and great deals for Holland Lake Lodge, ranked #1 of 2 specialty lodging in Condon and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. 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. Frequent letters to the editor in newspapers across western Montana show voices in opposition to the project. Pitney Bowes, and GreatSchools Independent for reference only. 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. 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. Christian Wohlfeil, the present owner for the last 20 years, has partnered with a phenomenal company to transition the Lodge to the next chapter. Located on the north side of Holland Lake near the East Holland Connector Trail (trail# 415) Trailhead. Flathead National Forest Supervisor Kurtis Steele indicated that he would probably use a categorical exclusion to approve the project, because the proposal involves construction on a recreation site that already has buildings on it. The Lodge property sits on 15 acres of Forest Service land, thanks to a perpetual special-use permit, similar to the type owned by ski resorts. I ran operations for the Montana Food Bank Network and then met (local video and internet entrepreneur) Hank Green, he said. We plan to resubmit our plan for future investment and infrastructure improvements at Holland Lake Lodge that is very much in line with our previously submitted Master Development Plan. The main lodge (9 guest. By proceeding, you consent to receive calls and texts at the The five-year plan is to be healthy and profitable and use the revenues to build a new lodge down the road.. The two have been in business together for 13 years, and know just about everyone in Condon. The existing 4,600-square-foot lodge was built the following year and includes nine guest rooms and a restaurant. A photo of Holland Lake in Montana (U.S. Forest Service via Flickr). He also wants to increase the dining and lodging capacities by adding indoor and outdoor seating, installing the eco-yurts and opening the owners residence to guests. Ive been around.. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. This propertys wildfire risk is increasing. We have enough people here to make a civilization, but its not a city, and nobody wants that here, Parcell said. The process has been fouled up from the beginning.. 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. A few miles down the road from the mercantile, Shirley and Loyd Hahn live in a log home. Not only was that the case with Holland Lake Lodge, but also last year's sale of Glacier Raft Company to Pursuit Glacier Collection, a subsidiary of Viad Corp. 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. Source Property Type: Single Family Residence. Location Summary. 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. 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. However, spokesperson Tami MacKenzie said the Forest Service will continue to evaluate the issue. She also said the Forest Service will conduct some sort of environmental review even if it grants a categorical exclusion. 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. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The 10-acre site includes a fine dining restaurant, a full bar, six semi-rustic guest cabins and an eight-room lodge. 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. For example, Holland Lake Lodge transferred a liquor license to a separate Holland Lake Lodge Restaurant LLC, according to Department of Revenue records. POWDR doesnt need a return on its investment right away, he said, but it needs a return sooner or later. Thursday, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality noted it had received the lodges application to construct two public water wells so they can be tested for quality and quantity. Thousands of people are raising objections to a controversial plan to expand Holland Lake Lodge, especially after the U.S. Forest Service admits it made errors at the beginning of the process. I know they (the public) feel like they were blindsided, but this is really step one. In our resubmittal, we will support the Forest Services recommendation to conduct an Environmental Assessment. Located on the north side of Holland Lake near the East Holland Connector Trail (trail# 415) Trailhead. A proposed tuition freeze for Montana students flew past one hurdle this week in Helena.