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. The 2020 U.S. Census pinned its population at 285. 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. As a resort company known for its ski hills seeks to expand the 1940s historic Holland Lake Lodge, locals are pushing back. After the sale, Gardner said he was looking for whats next., I stumbled upon this opportunity, he said. . Buying a home for the first time can be terrifyingly intimidating A pre-approval letter from a lender makes your offer stronger. The liquor license was transferred for $1,000, according to the DOR record. 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. 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. That limited-liability corporation is controlled by Justin Sibley, POWDR CEO, according to the Montana Department of Revenue records. Call Holland Lake Lodge for dinner reservations at 406.754.2282 or email info@hollandlakelodge.com. 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. Many locals were outraged after they learned of Utah-based resort company POWDRs plan to buy and triple the capacity of the lodge in September five months after the company submitted the plan to the Forest Service. Holland Lake Lodge Facility Improvement & Expansion Before joining States Newsroom Montana, she served as city editor of the Missoulian, the largest news outlet in western Montana. If the Forest Service considers all the infrastructure currently in place, she said its greater than 15 acres based on a preliminary assessment. 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. 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. Recently sold homes in Brookfield, IL had a median listing home price of $330,000. As a resort company known for its ski hills seeks to expand the 1940s historic Holland Lake Lodge, locals are pushing back. The 2020 U.S. Census pinned its population at 285. Thats why thats so concerning to us and a lot of the locals and local groups, is that if the Forest Service decides to utilize a categorical exclusion, they can issue a decision immediately and begin ground disturbing activities, Akland said. The process has been fouled up from the beginning.. The additional months of tourism would positively impact the surrounding communities and businesses, as visitors come and help power the local economies. The Forest Service announced the Holland Lake Lodge expansion proposal this fall. The presentation made in Seeley and provided to the Daily Montanan notes a permit amendment dated August 2022 was signed by both Wohlfeil and the primary contact for the proposed expansion, POWDRs Brian Stewart. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. The project will change the culture and the ecology of the area. Holland Lake provides a beautiful backdrop to any private gathering. I have an attachment myself, but Im also really excited for someone new to come in and do what they want to do.. 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. 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. Or do you want to come and enjoy what you came to see? DEIJ Policy | Ethics Policy | Privacy Policy. 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. 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. 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. The MDP proposes to restore the old lodge, add buildings, and upgrade infrastructure within the existing 15-acre permit area. 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. 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. Holland Lake Lodge operates on public land in the Flathead National Forest under the special use permit, which is valid through 2036. A few miles down the road from the mercantile, Shirley and Loyd Hahn live in a log home. Read about our leadership team. I would encourage everyone to just continue through this process with us and see where it ends up.. She said that type of exception can be used for expanding a toilet or a shower facility or replacing a chairlift. Alternatively, these documents can be accessed on the Pinyon Public website: View Documents on Pinyon Public, https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61746. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. The current Lodge and surrounding structures were built in 1947. In the meantime, the Nov. 15 memo from Corn and Browder calls into question the validity of the current permit itself, issued May 2017. 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. Guests enjoy breathtaking sunsets, the fresh mountain air over the lake, hikes to the roaring falls, and delicious dinners. The original lodge was built on the shore of Holland Lake in 1924 but was consumed by a fire in 1946. So we have people going out to do the mapping portion of it, she said. We try our best to accommodate all walk-in parties. I just have no trust there.. If we can do year round operations, it would be at least 20 year round jobs, which we could then do full medical, dental, vision and 401K benefits, Wohlfeil said. update to your home value. by Keila Szpaller, Daily Montanan October 15, 2022. 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. 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. In Montana, liquor licenses can be sold for tens of thousands of dollars. Montana news about the environment, natural resources, wildlife, climate change and more. Brookfield Properties is lead by a group of innovative leaders, bringing fresh perspective to the real estate industry. She says she doesnt trust POWDR to change something so important to locals in the area. 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. District: Swan Lake Ranger District Project Documents Use the widget below to browse documents associated with this project. I ran operations for the Montana Food Bank Network and then met (local video and internet entrepreneur) Hank Green, he said. 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. Holland Lake Lodge Facility Improvement & Expansion 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. 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. 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. Flathead National Forest: Decision on Holland Lake likely coming this 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. What will happen to water quality? Ive been there, done that. 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. We will share more of those details in the coming weeks. Community Raises Questions of Sustainability and Access at Holland Lake 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. At this point, I wouldnt trust them to walk my dog, Hahn said. Brookfield, IL Recently Sold Homes | realtor.com The current permit covers 10.53 acres. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. There was a problem saving your notification. There were 119 properties sold in Brookfield, IL, which spent an average of 61 days on the market. The Mail on Sunday has learned that the Sussexes will be mocked in a one-off special of Channel 4's The Windsors (pictured), with a plotline based on their unconfirmed attendance at the Coronation. The Daily Montanan is a nonprofit, nonpartisan source for trusted news, commentary and insight into statewide policy and politics beneath the Big Sky. Holland Lake Lodge operates on public land in the Flathead National Forest under the special use permit, which is valid through 2036. About 2 Save Holland Lake One dog-gone expensive hound is slated to be stationed near the entrance to Missoulas newest dog park. The proposal noted owners Christian Wohlfeil and POWDR, of Park City, Utah, had submitted the joint application to expand and improve the resort. 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. DEQ said if they both are acceptable, they may be used to serve the development in the future. The key thing is reinvesting profits back into the company. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. And what happens if people responded to a proposal that wasnt totally accurate? His goal has been to ensure that the necessary updates will be made, thus allowing Holland Lake Lodge to prosper into the future. Follow Daily Montanan on Facebook and Twitter. Daily Montanan maintains editorial independence. 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. A career in the insurance industry doesn't exactly sound "sexy," but one Missoula firm is giving its employees generous benefits and career gr. He says he fears Condons all-volunteer emergency services could be overwhelmed by the added strain the larger lodge could produce. 'Sad state of affairs' as Forest Service considers Montana resort 1947 Holland Lake Lodge Rd, Condon MT 59826. 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. The old gift shop and cabins would be removed. Categorical Exclusion 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. 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. You do not need to sign up or login to Box to view documents, but if you have difficulty accessing the documents on a mobile device, you may choose to sign up for a free account, download the app to your device and log in to ensure that you can open the documents. 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. And he said the Forest Service needs to know and present accurately to the public the actual scope of the permit and project. Learn More Stay Holland Lake Lodge Facility Improvement & Expansion Citizen Groundswell Rises Up To Keep A Montana Lake Quaint 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. The expansion proposal discusses a project of 15 acres. New owners propose expansion of Holland Lake Lodge Voices from Condon: Holland Lake Lodge proposal meets local opposition As of Sunday, more than 2,800 people . Cookies must be enabled to use this tool. Holland Lake Lodge is about three miles to east of the Montana HWY 83. Last Completed Milestone: But the proposal and process both have raised the ire of residents of the Swan Valley. Wohlfeil said such changes were needed for the Lodge to thrive. The Forest Service announced the Holland Lake Lodge. The Master Development Plan (MDP) 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. A Utah-based corporation wants to expand the Holland Lake Lodge into more of a year-round resort destination, but it needs Forest Service approval to do so.