Christian Wohlfeil, the present owner for the last 20 years, has partnered with a phenomenal company to transition the Lodge to the next chapter. The Forest Service has promised a full environmental review of the new plan, and more opportunities for the public to weigh in. Forest Supervisor Kurt Steele signed the document as well. take the lodge with you The Holland Lake Lodge Gift Shop specializes in both local and customized apparel, gifts, novelties and souvenirs. The current plan also would winterize the buildings, making Holland Lake Lodge a year-round destination. Its a Catch-22 because we also need tourism in our state that helps our economy.. 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. 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. Plot thickens in Holland Lake Lodge expansion debate 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. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Cookies must be enabled to use this tool. Brookfield, IL Recently Sold Homes | realtor.com The property also holds six guest cabins, a gift shop, owner's cabin and two outbuildings. Categorical Exclusion We recently received a request from the U.S. Forest Service to provide more detail on our Master Development Plan. 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. 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. 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. 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. Frequent letters to the editor in newspapers across western Montana show voices in opposition to the project. a product of First Street Foundation. 1947 Holland Lake Lodge Rd, Condon MT 59826. 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. Use the widget below to browse documents associated with this project. She declined to confirm POWDR is in control of the lodge and didnt discuss the ownership structure. I just have no trust there.. Our plan will not, however, compromise on scale as a smaller lodge with fewer, more expensive lodging options would not align with our mission of making the outdoors more accessible to a broader spectrum of customer. Holland Lake Lodge is best known for our dinners featuring fresh, local, seasonal ingredients. Holland Lake Lodge Facility Improvement & Expansion The area brings a sense of community values and is true to Montana roots. 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. The Holland Lake area is already heavily impacted. POWDR already in charge of Holland Lake Lodge, lawyers allege The environment and ecosystems where we work and operate is our top priority and we have no desire to conduct business in a way that undermines that. His input and local knowledge and experience was critical to development of the initial plan. Right now, the foundation of the lodge is crumbling, and wed like to put it on an actual foundation and preserve it for future generations, Wohlfeil said. So, I guess theres a tradeoff, Parcell says, Do you want to destroy what youre coming to see? 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. A 2022 report to the Montana . Then, in 2017, he put it up for sale. Together, they look forward to expanding guest services and activities, while preserving the unique and special character of what is here now. The Forest Service announced the Holland Lake Lodge. The lodge was built in 1924 but burned down in 1946 and was rebuilt in 1947. The five-year plan is to be healthy and profitable and use the revenues to build a new lodge down the road.. . The process has been fouled up from the beginning.. 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. About 2 Save Holland Lake And that is a sad state of affairs.. POWDRs corporate shenanigans may be legal, but they are precisely the sort of actions that the permit was drafted to address, the memo said. Thursday, a Forest Service spokesperson was traveling and unavailable to fully address questions about the validity of the permit. Sign up here for updates and news on the process. The current nightly rate for two people is $340, including meals. Justin Sibley, CEO of POWDR, said the changes would be soulful. 03/01/2023), https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61746&exp=detail. Lead Management Unit 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. Take a look through some of the beautiful views and experiences the Lodge offers. The Risk Factor models are designed to approximate risk and not intended to include all possible scenarios. Condon unrolls along an evergreen-lined stretch of Highway 83 a strung-out series of homes, two churches, and a bar and diner. 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. Directions: North on MT-83 N, East onto Holland Lake Road, continue onto Holland Lake Lodge Road. She said Thursday she anticipates a decision will be made in the next week or two. She also said the Forest Service will conduct some sort of environmental review even if it grants a categorical exclusion. 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. With six cabins and nine rooms, the Lodge has plenty of options for accommodations that help you experience Holland Lake and the surrounding area to the fullest during your all-inclusive stay. Contact Editor Darrell Ehrlick for questions: info@dailymontanan.com. A proposed tuition freeze for Montana students flew past one hurdle this week in Helena. Holland Lake Lodge operates on public land in the Flathead National Forest under the special use permit, which is valid through 2036. One of its most striking attributes is actually something its missing noise. Thousands of people submitted online comments to the Forest Service regarding POWDRs proposed project, the vast majority of which were against the expansion. There was a problem saving your notification. 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. HOLLAND LAKE LODGE - Reviews (Condon, MT) - Tripadvisor There has been no change since we (Powdr) originally partnered with Christian and Holland Lake, LLC, Hutchinson said in the email. She also said questions about acreage still need to be answered, and figuring out boundaries is not straightforward. The 2020 U.S. Census pinned its population at 285. 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. 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. 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. Siloti says it didnt take long for requests for copies of the Hands Off Holland sign to start pouring in. What will happen to water quality? As a resort company known for its ski hills seeks to expand the 1940s historic Holland Lake Lodge, locals are pushing back. Holland Lake Lodge Holland Lake Lodge set to be sold to Missoula tech exec who plans to Treating yourself or a loved one to a stay at the Lodge, or items in our gift shop, is now easier than ever. Plans include increasing occupancy by adding a new lodge, new cabins and smaller studio cabins, with the goal of keeping nightly rates accessible. So we have 100 years of permits for this thing, and no two permits are really giving us the same layout and acreage.. Construction could start as early as 2023. Driving north from Seeley Lake to Condon, the first sign pops up about 6 miles before the turn onto Holland Lake Road. The Forest Service announced the Holland Lake Lodge expansion proposal this fall. The main lodge (9 guest. 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. 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. However, she said the boundary for the permit is still pretty unknown because modern mapping tools havent been used on the property. 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. 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 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. 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 key thing is reinvesting profits back into the company. I started digging and have been working on it for a couple of years.. 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. Holland Lake Lodge is about three miles to east of the Montana HWY 83. Learn More Stay Flathead National Forest is proposing facility expansion of Holland Lake Lodge. This includes Holland Lake Lodge where guests have been coming for generations.". In our resubmittal, we will support the Forest Services recommendation to conduct an Environmental Assessment. Montana people are sort of sensitive to all the people moving in and all the crowds coming with Covid, he said. Located on the north side of Holland Lake near the East Holland Connector Trail (trail# 415) Trailhead. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Holland Lake Lodge Facility Improvement & Expansion 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. POWDR told MTPR a new master development plan will be submitted sometime in 2023. Not Subject to Regulations, Project Activity 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. Notice of Initiation (09/01/2022) As a result, the Forest Service must approve all modifications. 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 current nightly rate for two people is $340, including meals. Kristine Akland, with the Center for Biological Diversity, said the Forest Services preliminary decision to grant a categorical exclusion doesnt square with a proposal to possibly triple capacity at the lodge. Montana news about the environment, natural resources, wildlife, climate change and more. Montana Public Radio | 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. We dont get the opportunity to make sure theyre considering all the important resources.. 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.. Holland Lake Lodge operates on public land in the Flathead National Forest under the special use permit, which is valid through 2036. Powdr to Enhance Accommodations and Services at Holland Lake Lodge Breakfast Lunch dinner wine bar Dinner Served nightly from 5:45 - 8:45pm Reservations are recommended for dinner. The expansion proposal discusses a project of 15 acres. She said that type of exception can be used for expanding a toilet or a shower facility or replacing a chairlift. 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). Holland Lake Lodge expansion controversial, but owner said it's a plan This propertys wildfire risk is increasing. 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. Rooms currently rent for $300 - $340 a night, up from the 2019 prices of $200 - $240 a night. An aerial view of the Holland Lake Lodge on Wednesday afternoon is shown. Just this summer, he said he received 4,000 inquiries via email alone about cabins, and he was sold out from April through September. 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.