He said the former owner was also a young guy in his early 40s but was looking to pass the torch. 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. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices American Heritage Real Estate, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago - Downers Grove Office, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago - La Grange Office, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago - Oak Park Office, Home buyers reveal: 'What I wish I had known before buying my first home, Debunked! 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. 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. So we have to ask for as much as we want to do now, he said. 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. "It was an amazing opportunity," said new owner Michael Gardner. Public comment might not do much to change the project. How much acreage is permitted anyway? The memo states it is not suggesting POWDR has acted illegally. That limited-liability corporation is controlled by Justin Sibley, POWDR CEO, according to the Montana Department of Revenue records. Austin graduated from the University of Montanas journalism program in May 2022. Its a place where many Montanans have spent their family weekends and vacations. 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. POWDR has built its brand on the premise of delivering soulful experiences that matter to guests and reflect the local community. The plan is to preserve the lodge, the owners cabin and the barn and winterize the buildings so the facility can operate year-round. 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. Generally, he said his interest is in increasing overnight guest capacity to an average 130, or more than doubling it, upgrading the infrastructure, including sewer, parking and power, creating employee housing, and potentially running at least some services all year long. The Risk Factor models are designed to approximate risk and not intended to include all possible scenarios. The old gift shop and cabins would be removed. Please call or message about having items shipped directly to you, as they make the perfect gift! 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. 1947 Holland Lake Lodge Rd, Condon MT 59826. The existing 4,600-square-foot lodge was built the following year and includes nine guest rooms and a restaurant. You can cancel at any time. Take a look through some of the beautiful views and experiences the Lodge offers. 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. Before joining States Newsroom Montana, she served as city editor of the Missoulian, the largest news outlet in western Montana. Source Property Type: Single Family Residence. He is also exploring partnerships for hosting music festivals, holiday celebrations and corporate retreats. MacKenzie, with the Flathead National Forest, said the Forest Service has not yet made a decision to use a categorical exclusion. 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. Brookfield Properties is lead by a group of innovative leaders, bringing fresh perspective to the real estate industry. Its a Catch-22 because we also need tourism in our state that helps our economy.. . Kalispell mental health clinic closes, leaving 200 patients without care, Racicot: preserving democracy outweighs party politics, House OKs a broadly written 'parental rights' bill. 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. POWDR doesnt need a return on its investment right away, he said, but it needs a return sooner or later. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Just this summer, he said he received 4,000 inquiries via email alone about cabins, and he was sold out from April through September. Early in 2018, VidCon was sold to Viacom. The original lodge was built on the shore of Holland Lake in 1924 but was consumed by a fire in 1946. In Montana, liquor licenses can be sold for tens of thousands of dollars. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons licence CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Plans include increasing occupancy by adding a new lodge, new cabins and smaller studio cabins, with the goal of keeping nightly rates accessible. 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. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. 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. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, 'Buffalo take care of us': First Blackfeet buffalo hunt open to all was a success, 'A hearty animal': Yaks roam 1,000-acre ranch outside of Kalispell, After escaping 'religious cult', Montana woman faces new challenges with honeyberry farm, Homeless Missoulians get creative to survive extreme cold, Business Buzz: New coffee shop, bakery opens in Missoula, MCPS school board selects 1 applicant for superintendent interview, Next chapter for Sleepy Inn motel begins this week, Attorneys offer more claims to Title IX suit against UM, City of Livingston releases more details on the death of Jalen Williams, Missoula's chief of police announces retirement, Death Notices for Thursday, March 2, 2023, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Business Buzz: Missoula airport certified as 'sensory inclusive facility', Former NFL star Chad Johnson says he saved money by living inside Cincinnati Bengals stadium for 2 years, Missoula hospital officials urge vaccinations, calling ahead to prevent measles outbreaks, Missoula County School District proposes adding seat belts to school buses, $25,000 dog to grace entrance of Missoula's MRL park, University of Montana president: Tuition freeze advances in Montana Legislature, 1 dead, 1 arrested after fatal shooting in northwest Montana, PayneWest Insurance offers competitive benefits to battle workforce crunch, Alaskas Iditarod kicks off with ceremonial start, Global race is on to improve EV range in the cold, Dogs, mushers prep for Iditarod as PETA accuses racers of animal abuse. Learn more about proposed improvement plans and how you can weigh in below. The original lodge was built on the shore of Holland Lake in 1924 but was consumed by a fire in 1946. Contact reporter Laura Lundquist atlundquist@missoulacurrent.com. Preserve the lodge, owners cabin, and barn, Add wildfire and life safety fire suppression system, Update wastewater and sewage systems to 2022 standards, Construct buildings to 2022 safety and accessibility standards, Winterize buildings for year-round access, Conserve water by upgrading to EPA approved WaterSense fixtures, Conserve energy by upgrading to EPA EnergyStar certified appliances, lighting and heating, Improve waste management by installing bear proof trash and recycling receptacles, Improve water quality in the lake by moving car parking away from the lake towards the barn, Add renewable energy with rooftop solar where feasible, Protect the night sky by following the International Dark Sky Park Program, Partner with local guides and outfitters to offer guests more activities, Add a 28-room lodge, welcome center, restaurant, and cabins, Add a maintenance building and employee housing, Install a dock for non-motorized boats and two swimming docks, Maintain an Adirondack inspired aesthetic for new building design, Provide year-round lodging, food and beverages, and accommodations, Eliminate or reduce local access to Holland Lake. But, to Parcell, that argument just doesnt work. 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. 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. 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. We have enough people here to make a civilization, but its not a city, and nobody wants that here, Parcell said. Then, in 2017, he put it up for sale. Frequent letters to the editor in newspapers across western Montana show voices in opposition to the project. The presentation notes the signing took place before the public was notified of a proposed project.. Montana people are sort of sensitive to all the people moving in and all the crowds coming with Covid, he said. One resident told me she worries the lodge would harm the quality of the watershed. 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. Flathead National Forest is proposing facility expansion of Holland Lake Lodge. The Lodge is currently accepting bookings for the 2023 season, with limited availability. 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.