The memo states it is not suggesting POWDR has acted illegally. After years of searching and considering new owners, Christian selected and partnered with POWDR to continue his vision of inclusivity in a newer and more sustainable Holland Lake Lodge. Just this summer, he said he received 4,000 inquiries via email alone about cabins, and he was sold out from April through September. Variations of that theme that the proposed expansion is just too big for Condon emerge as I continued my trip through town. But, to Parcell, that argument just doesnt work. Or do you want to come and enjoy what you came to see? HOLLAND LAKE LODGE - Reviews (Condon, MT) - Tripadvisor As proposed, the Master Development Plan will restore the proper foundation and infrastructure to the property. Located on the north side of Holland Lake near the East Holland Connector Trail (trail . 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. Please subscribe to keep reading. 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 find partners for music festivals. 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 2020 U.S. Census pinned its population at 285. Flathead National Forest is proposing facility expansion of Holland Lake Lodge. 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. 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. New owners propose expansion of Holland Lake Lodge 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. 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. 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. Meet Our Leadership Team | Brookfield Properties 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.. Our company was founded on the premise of providing broad access to the outdoors in a safe, sustainable manner that would create generations of nature lovers who, in turn, would join us in becoming advocates of ecological stewardship. 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. 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. 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. The acreage is a complicated one, she said. Two years from now, what will their next proposal be?. But thousands of people have already submitted comments based on the original plan, Lombardi said: What is the administrative procedure now that they dont know? 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. I have an attachment myself, but Im also really excited for someone new to come in and do what they want to do.. POWDR has said that the expanded lodge will allow the company to open access for more people to enjoy Montanas outdoor spaces. Holland Lake Lodge is best known for our dinners featuring fresh, local, seasonal ingredients. 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. Holland Lake Lodge, Inc. Master Development Plan details building and infrastructure improvements, enhancing the visitor experience, within the current permitted area. Otherwise, consider buying a gift card for you or a loved one. As a result, the Forest Service must approve all modifications. Montana Public Radio | A career in the insurance industry doesn't exactly sound "sexy," but one Missoula firm is giving its employees generous benefits and career gr. There was a problem saving your notification. Gardners plan is to attract investors, starting at $25,000, and to reinvest profits back into the property. My point is there is demand, Wohlfeil said. Holland Lake Lodge is about three miles to east of the Montana HWY 83. Emails: Flathead Forest favored Holland Lake Lodge proposal I ran operations for the Montana Food Bank Network and then met (local video and internet entrepreneur) Hank Green, he said. So we have people going out to do the mapping portion of it, she said. An aerial view of the Holland Lake Lodge on Wednesday afternoon is shown. 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. POWDRs vice president of communications Stacey Hutchinson told MTPR the company is listening to feedback from the public before it makes its next proposal. Holland Lake Lodge: Gift Shop 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. POWDR told MTPR a new master development plan will be submitted sometime in 2023. Austin graduated from the University of Montanas journalism program in May 2022. She said an environmental assessment or EIS are still possible. Bob Parcell joined the Missoula County Sheriffs Office as a deputy 40 years ago, and spent 33 of those patrolling along Highway 83. We will share more of those details in the coming weeks. Ive got two full-grown kids, he said. We look forward to continuing this legacy, Sibley said in a statement. 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. Cover page of the Holland Lake Lodge expansion proposal. The property also holds six guest cabins, a gift shop, owners cabin and two outbuildings. Breakfast Lunch dinner wine bar Dinner Served nightly from 5:45 - 8:45pm Reservations are recommended for dinner. Our intention from the beginning of this process was to upgrade the infrastructure of Holland Lake Lodge in a sustainable way that would preserve the integrity of the lodge and environment without sacrificing affordability for residents and others seeking to marvel at the grandeur of our natural spaces. Scale back, one commenter wrote. 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. I want to continue the legacy of this special, magical, wonderful lodge, he said. She said Thursday she anticipates a decision will be made in the next week or two. Similarly, when Blacktail. The Lodge offers six charming lakeside cabins and . 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. The plan is to preserve the lodge, the owners cabin and the barn and winterize the buildings so the facility can operate year-round. Holland Lake Lodge operates on public land in the Flathead National Forest under the special use permit, which is valid through 2036. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Siloti says it didnt take long for requests for copies of the Hands Off Holland sign to start pouring in. 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. The five-year plan is to be healthy and profitable and use the revenues to build a new lodge down the road.. PublishedDecember 28, 2022 at 6:00 AM MST. Call Holland Lake Lodge for dinner reservations at 406.754.2282 or email info@hollandlakelodge.com. Powdr to Enhance Accommodations and Services at Holland Lake Lodge We very much look forward to doing that and continuing to work with the USFS, as well as the public, during the process. Holland Lake Lodge Facility Improvement & Expansion The Bob Marshall Wilderness was named for Bob Marshall, the . Daily Montanan maintains editorial independence. Community Raises Questions of Sustainability and Access at Holland Lake Alternatively, these documents can be accessed on the Pinyon Public website: View Documents on Pinyon Public, https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61746. number you provided, including marketing by autodialer and prerecorded and artificial voice, and 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 current nightly rate for two people is $340, including meals. His goal has been to ensure that the necessary updates will be made, thus allowing Holland Lake Lodge to prosper into the future. The additional months of tourism would positively impact the surrounding communities and businesses, as visitors come and help power the local economies. Wohlfeil has alwaystoutedthe propertys rustic charm and intimate feel but talked about wanting to make more improvements. My daughter is in the Navy stationed in Okinawa. He lives just down the road from Holland Lake at the south end of town. What will happen to water quality? Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics. The current Lodge and surrounding structures were built in 1947. . The old gift shop and cabins would be removed. Keila Szpaller is deputy editor of the Daily Montanan and covers education. 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. Thanks for subscribing! Holland Lake Lodge Facility Improvement & Expansion The Forest Service announced the Holland Lake Lodge expansion proposal this fall. The current owner of Holland Lake Lodge has been seeking to sell the property for years, saying it is in bad shape and in need of updates. The MDP proposes to restore the old lodge, add buildings, and upgrade infrastructure within the existing 15-acre permit area. We will continue to look into this concern regarding current ownership and if something has changed we will take appropriate action.. Driving north from Seeley Lake to Condon, the first sign pops up about 6 miles before the turn onto Holland Lake Road. One-off special of sitcom will poke fun at Sussexes The 10-acre site includes a fine dining restaurant, a full bar, six semi-rustic guest cabins and an eight-room lodge. The same Secretary of State report strikes out references to Wohlfeil. POWDR doesnt need a return on its investment right away, he said, but it needs a return sooner or later. Environmental risk data is provided by Risk Factor, Harzardous waste compliance actions; Facility improvements/construction; Forest vegetation improvements; Heritage resource management; Special use authorizations; Road improvements/construction, Project Milestones The Forest Service announced the Holland Lake Lodge. Ive hung 98% of the signage down Highway 83, Siloti said with a laugh. The original lodge was built on the shore of Holland Lake in 1924 but was consumed by a fire in 1946. 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 Forest Service announced the Holland Lake Lodge expansion proposal this fall. 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. 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. District: Swan Lake Ranger District Project Documents Use the widget below to browse documents associated with this project. Claim your home and get an email whenever there's an 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. He said the Forest Service needs to confirm the acreage in question. The current plan does not mention helicopter skiing, but Akland said that doesnt preclude the company from making a request in the future. The Forest Service has promised a full environmental review of the new plan, and more opportunities for the public to weigh in. 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. 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. How much acreage is permitted anyway? NEPA or Forest Plan Amendment Decision Document Available (est. 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 set to be sold to Missoula tech exec who plans to expand, extend season. The Greatest Good - Flathead Beacon No one I talked to during my visit to Condon expressed support for POWDRs plans. Ive seen (mergers and acquisitions), Ive been in nonprofits, Ive been in publicly traded companies, I was the VP of a massive global media conglomerate. The Holland Lake area is already heavily impacted. Thats the difference.. As proposed, the expansion would more than double the number of guests at the lodge from 50 to at least 90 or as many as 156, extend operations into winter, and possibly double the acres in use. Gardner, 39, recently worked with Missoula real estate agent Shannon Hilliard to buy the property from its longtime former owner. 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.. However, she said the Forest Service has discretion over how much related documentation it needs to provide. 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. POWDR already in charge of Holland Lake Lodge, memo alleges Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. take the lodge with you The Holland Lake Lodge Gift Shop specializes in both local and customized apparel, gifts, novelties and souvenirs. That means the current proposal should include anticipated expansion plans for the next decade, he said. About 2 Save Holland Lake