Cover page of the Holland Lake Lodge expansion proposal. 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. The old gift shop and cabins would be removed. 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. 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. Located on the north side of Holland Lake near the East Holland Connector Trail (trail . POWDR already in charge of Holland Lake Lodge, memo alleges Construction could start as early as 2023. The lodge was built in 1924 but burned down in 1946 and was rebuilt in 1947. The permit states the holder shall notify the Forest Service when a change in control is contemplated, and it defines changes in part as a joint venture or a third party having ability to exercise management authority of the business. Last Completed Milestone: 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. Claim your home and get an email whenever there's an Holland Lake Lodge: Dining 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. 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. A photo of Holland Lake in Montana (U.S. Forest Service via Flickr). 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. The property also holds six guest cabins, a gift shop, owner's cabin and two outbuildings. The presentation notes the signing took place before the public was notified of a proposed project.. 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. Located on the north side of Holland Lake near the East Holland Connector Trail (trail# 415) Trailhead. 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. 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. 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. Ive got two full-grown kids, he said. Christian Wohlfeil started managing the Holland Lake Lodge in 1999 and bought the property three years later. 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. people are sort of sensitive to all the people moving in and all the crowds coming with Covid, he said. As proposed, the Master Development Plan will restore the proper foundation and infrastructure to the property. The five-year plan is to be healthy and profitable and use the revenues to build a new lodge down the road.. Holland Lake provides a beautiful backdrop to any private gathering. The expansion proposal discusses a project of 15 acres. But, to Parcell, that argument just doesnt work. My daughter is in the Navy stationed in Okinawa. Or do you want to come and enjoy what you came to see? The proposal noted owners Christian Wohlfeil and POWDR, of Park City, Utah, had submitted the joint application to expand and improve the resort. 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. Christian Wohlfeil, the present owner for the last 20 years, has partnered with a phenomenal company to transition the Lodge to the next chapter. Theyll have to move, and where are they going to move? Public comment might not do much to change the project. 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. "It was an amazing opportunity," said new owner Michael Gardner. We remain steadfast and optimistic to fulfill the vision for Holland Lake Lodge that many Montana residents, and other Americans support. Save Holland Lake, an advance group thats grown out of the communitys frustration, released a press release raising concerns over the Forest Services handling of the public process, potential violations of the lodges permit to operate on public land, and pushing for a full environmental review of the proposal. So we have 100 years of permits for this thing, and no two permits are really giving us the same layout and acreage.. Holland Lake Lodge is about three miles to east of the Montana HWY 83. Then, in 2017, he put it up for sale. email, from realtor.com and, Home buyers reveal: 'What I wish I had known before buying my first home', Selling your home? The existing 4,600-square-foot lodge was built the following year and includes nine guest rooms and a restaurant. 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. Call Holland Lake Lodge for dinner reservations at 406.754.2282 or email info@hollandlakelodge.com. POWDRs vice president of communications Stacey Hutchinson told MTPR the company is listening to feedback from the public before it makes its next proposal. 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. 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. And thats a direct quote from a woman in Condon.. 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. 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. Please call or message about having items shipped directly to you, as they make the perfect gift! 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. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons licence CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Notice of Initiation (09/01/2022) The Forest Service announced the Holland Lake Lodge. The Risk Factor models are designed to approximate risk and not intended to include all possible scenarios. In addition,the East Holland Lake Connector Trailhead parking area would be expanded up to 3 acres. Hutchinson declined to provide specifics, but said many community members have approached POWDR privately to express support for its plans at Holland Lake. 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. 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.. Ive been around.. The current nightly rate for two people is $340, including meals. Before joining States Newsroom Montana, she served as city editor of the Missoulian, the largest news outlet in western Montana. And he said the Forest Service needs to know and present accurately to the public the actual scope of the permit and project. She said an environmental assessment or EIS are still possible. One-off special of sitcom will poke fun at Sussexes Gardner eventually became chief operating officer and chief strategy officer for VidCon, which was started by Green and his brother, John Green, and grew to become the worlds largest celebration of digital video and online creators. Plans include increasing occupancy by adding a new lodge, new cabins and smaller studio cabins, with the goal of keeping nightly rates accessible. We have gift cards available online! As a resort company known for its ski hills seeks to expand the 1940s historic Holland Lake Lodge, locals are pushing back. We very much look forward to doing that and continuing to work with the USFS, as well as the public, during the process. The Forest Service announced the Holland Lake Lodge expansion proposal this fall. 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. GreatSchool Ratings compare a school's test performance to statewide results. Gardners plan is to attract investors, starting at $25,000, and to reinvest profits back into the property. In our resubmittal, we will support the Forest Services recommendation to conduct an Environmental Assessment. Don't neglect these 6 maintenance tasks - or else, Debunked! 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. DEQ said if they both are acceptable, they may be used to serve the development in the future. But the memo released this week by lawyers George Corn and Daniel Browder alleges control of the joint venture between Wohlfeil and POWDR terminated the current permit and should have triggered an application for a new permit. Powdr to Enhance Accommodations and Services at Holland Lake Lodge Yeah, I just dont think theyll stay, Shirley Hahn said. Driving north from Seeley Lake to Condon, the first sign pops up about 6 miles before the turn onto Holland Lake Road. What will happen to water quality? 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. In an earlier interview, he said he recently sold minority shares to POWDR, which operates ski resorts and bills itself as an adventure life company. 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. 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. Theres just not much left.. You can cancel at any time. Wohlfeil said such changes were needed for the Lodge to thrive. Holland Lake Lodge, Inc. Master Development Plan details building and infrastructure improvements, enhancing the visitor experience, within the current permitted area. 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. Buying a home for the first time can be terrifyingly intimidating A pre-approval letter from a lender makes your offer stronger. As of Sunday, more than 2,800 people . KALISPELL Authorities have arrested a man in connection with a fatal shooting in northwest Montana. The Holland Lake area is already heavily impacted. 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. We look forward to continuing this legacy, Sibley said in a statement. Early in 2018, VidCon was sold to Viacom. 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. A permit provision states specific conditions terminate the permit without any action by the authorized officer, or Forest Supervisor. 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. Scale back, one commenter wrote. number you provided, including marketing by autodialer and prerecorded and artificial voice, and Similarly, when Blacktail. 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. If the Forest Service considers all the infrastructure currently in place, she said its greater than 15 acres based on a preliminary assessment. He also said the project represents one of the tensions in a state thats growing. POWDR told MTPR a new master development plan will be submitted sometime in 2023. 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. I think the next step is for us to really get deep into the public comment, MacKenzie said. 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. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). 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.' She also said questions about acreage still need to be answered, and figuring out boundaries is not straightforward. The process has been fouled up from the beginning.. Use the widget below to browse documents associated with this project. 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. 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. 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 operates on public land in the Flathead National Forest under the special use permit, which is valid through 2036. Christian 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. 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. The Secretary of State documents are included in a presentation made in Seeley Lake earlier this week by Save Holland Lake and cited in the memo. 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. Renewing Holland Lake Lodge for the next 100 years of solitude and recreation. Environmental risk data is provided by Risk Factor, 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. He says he fears Condons all-volunteer emergency services could be overwhelmed by the added strain the larger lodge could produce. The Greatest Good - Flathead Beacon Holland Lake Lodge set to be sold to Missoula tech exec who plans to expand, extend season. In the meantime, Holland Lake Lodge is marching forward. Thats the difference.. There will be the addition of some new structures to add capacity. Grizzly bears? Grace Siloti and her husband own and operate Mission Mountains Mercantile. New owners propose expansion of Holland Lake Lodge 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. Some of the hottest neighborhoods near Brookfield, IL are Garfield Ridge, South Maywood, West Village, Seminary District, Old Town North. 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. I started digging and have been working on it for a couple of years.. 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. Christian chose to work with POWDR to make updates that preserve the character of the lodge because of the companys dedication to protecting the environment and being inclusive of all guests and local residents. The main lodge (9 guest. One resident told me she worries the lodge would harm the quality of the watershed. Emails: Flathead Forest favored Holland Lake Lodge proposal Flathead National Forest is proposing facility expansion of Holland Lake Lodge. So, I guess theres a tradeoff, Parcell says, Do you want to destroy what youre coming to see? Next Milestone: Contact reporter Laura Lundquist atlundquist@missoulacurrent.com. The Forest Service announced the Holland Lake Lodge expansion proposal this fall. 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, The busiest spot on a recent December day was a gas station and convenience store at the north end of town. 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. 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. 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. At this point, I wouldnt trust them to walk my dog, Hahn said.