The busiest spot on a recent December day was a gas station and convenience store at the north end of town. POWDR has built its brand on the premise of delivering soulful experiences that matter to guests and reflect the local community. 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. Typically, the exception means no EIS and no environmental assessment. I would encourage everyone to just continue through this process with us and see where it ends up.. Montana news about the environment, natural resources, wildlife, climate change and more. 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. 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. 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. Gardners plan is to attract investors, starting at $25,000, and to reinvest profits back into the property. In the first season, there will be some changes but nothing too big, Gardner said. Categorical Exclusion The MDP proposes to restore the old lodge, add buildings, and upgrade infrastructure within the existing 15-acre permit area. The area brings a sense of community values and is true to Montana roots. Learn More Stay Holland Lake Lodge is a soulful place, where families spend time in the outdoors with the people they love. That means the current proposal should include anticipated expansion plans for the next decade, he said. There has been no change since we (Powdr) originally partnered with Christian and Holland Lake, LLC, Hutchinson said in the email. Proposed Improvement Plan Would/Would Not, Master Development Plan (MDP) to the U.S. Forest Service. The memo also notes Utah Secretary of State records show POWDRs address in Park City as the same one listed as the legal address for the lodge by the Montana Secretary of States Office as of April 2021. I know they (the public) feel like they were blindsided, but this is really step one. 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. 1947 Holland Lake Lodge Rd, Condon MT 59826. There were 119 properties sold in Brookfield, IL, which spent an average of 61 days on the market. email, from realtor.com and, Home buyers reveal: 'What I wish I had known before buying my first home', Selling your home? Call Holland Lake Lodge for dinner reservations at 406.754.2282 or email info@hollandlakelodge.com. Over the years, he said hes worked 70 or 80 hours a week at the lodge and worn every hat, so its not easy for him to hear impassioned public comment against the expansion. 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. In April, Holland Lake Lodge Inc., submitted a plan to the Forest Service to expand its resort on a pristine and popular lake in the Swan Valley. 8717, 1947 Holland Lake Lodge Rd, Condon, MT 59826, 2023 by POWDR. The current nightly rate for two people is $340, including meals. Holland Lake Lodge operates on public land in the Flathead National Forest under the special use permit, which is valid through 2036. But the plan has not been popular with the public, in part because the Forest Service said it may not complete a full environmental assessment or more extensive environmental impact statement, or EIS, before approving the project. The Lodge offers six charming lakeside cabins and . Driving north from Seeley Lake to Condon, the first sign pops up about 6 miles before the turn onto Holland Lake Road. The original lodge was built on the shore of Holland Lake in 1924 but was consumed by a fire in 1946. 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. The Forest Service announced the Holland Lake Lodge expansion proposal this fall. Thanks for subscribing! I started digging and have been working on it for a couple of years.. Grace Siloti and her husband own and operate Mission Mountains Mercantile. We recently received a request from the U.S. Forest Service to provide more detail on our Master Development Plan. 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. In Montana, liquor licenses can be sold for tens of thousands of dollars. The two have been in business together for 13 years, and know just about everyone in Condon. One of its most striking attributes is actually something its missing noise. The Forest Service has promised a full environmental review of the new plan, and more opportunities for the public to weigh in. 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. 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. 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. Forest Supervisor Kurt Steele signed the document as well. Two years from now, what will their next proposal be?. And thats a direct quote from a woman in Condon.. The expansion proposal discusses a project of 15 acres. We look forward to continuing this legacy, Sibley said in a statement. 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. buy a gift card items available: She also said POWDR has a helicopter skiing business, and another concern is whether the company would eventually apply for a permit to do heliskiing in the Swan Valley. "It's a very healthy business and it's in the . The Bob Marshall Wilderness was named for Bob Marshall, the . (Daily Montanan) POWDR, a Utah company identified as future owner of Holland Lake Lodge, is already in control of the Swan Valley resort, allege a couple of lawyers who are opponents of a lodge expansion proposal in a memo and review of public records. Guests enjoy breathtaking sunsets, the fresh mountain air over the lake, hikes to the roaring falls, and delicious dinners. *30 guests or less. This is why the current owner, Christian Wohlfeil, has been looking to sell the property. 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. 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. The key thing is reinvesting profits back into the company. I think the next step is for us to really get deep into the public comment, MacKenzie said. 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. As of Sunday, more than 2,800 people . And thats what this plan is.. "It was an amazing opportunity," said new owner Michael Gardner. 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. 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. 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. DEQ said if they both are acceptable, they may be used to serve the development in the future. She also confirmed a second public comment period will take place after more analysis and acreage clarifications., This really is just the beginning of this process, MacKenzie said. And he said the Forest Service needs to know and present accurately to the public the actual scope of the permit and project. Holland Lake Lodge, Inc. Master Development Plan details building and infrastructure improvements, enhancing the visitor experience, within the current permitted area. The Flathead National Forest was to hold a public meeting on Thursday night about a proposal to remove 10 aging. 406.754.2282. info@hollandlakelodge.com. Holland Lake Lodge is about three miles to east of the Montana HWY 83. 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. The owner of Holland Lake Lodge, who sold significant ownership shares of the facility to POWDR, told the Montana Free Press that POWDR needs to be able to expand the facilities in order to turn a profit. He lives just down the road from Holland Lake at the south end of town. 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. The MDP proposes to restore the old lodge, add buildings, and upgrade infrastructure within the existing 15-acre permit area. At public meetings and in press interviews, POWDR has reiterated that it wants to build that trust with the community. 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. Alternatively, these documents can be accessed on the Pinyon Public website: View Documents on Pinyon Public, https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61746. 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. 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. people are sort of sensitive to all the people moving in and all the crowds coming with Covid, he said. 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. POWDR, a Utah company identified as future owner of Holland Lake Lodge, is already in control of the Swan Valley resort, allege a couple of lawyers who are opponents of a lodge expansion proposal in a memo and review of public records. Austin graduated from the University of Montanas journalism program in May 2022. 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. Holland Lake provides a beautiful backdrop to any private gathering. 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 see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics. Holland Lake Lodge operates on public land in the Flathead National Forest under the special use permit, which is valid through 2036. Brookfield Properties is lead by a group of innovative leaders, bringing fresh perspective to the real estate industry. Read about our leadership team. By proceeding, you consent to receive calls and texts at the Not Subject to Regulations, Project Activity Hutchinson declined to provide specifics, but said many community members have approached POWDR privately to express support for its plans at Holland Lake. In the meantime, Lombardi pointed to grizzly bears, lynx, bull trout, elk, loons, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, and said they all merit a rigorous environmental review. take the lodge with you The Holland Lake Lodge Gift Shop specializes in both local and customized apparel, gifts, novelties and souvenirs. Take a look through some of the beautiful views and experiences the Lodge offers. Frequent letters to the editor in newspapers across western Montana show voices in opposition to the project. 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.. The current nightly rate for two people is $340, including meals. At first glance, it looks like residents of Condon have united behind the same candidate for office. 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. 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? Some of the hottest neighborhoods near Brookfield, IL are Garfield Ridge, South Maywood, West Village, Seminary District, Old Town North. A few miles down the road from the mercantile, Shirley and Loyd Hahn live in a log home. Source Property Type: Single Family Residence. Keep in Touch. But, to Parcell, that argument just doesnt work. So, I guess theres a tradeoff, Parcell says, Do you want to destroy what youre coming to see? 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). 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. Claim your home and get an email whenever there's an Wohlfeil said such changes were needed for the Lodge to thrive. POWDR partnered with Holland Lake Lodge, Inc., and came up with a development plan that they submitted to the Forest Service in April. 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. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. 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. Its a place where many Montanans have spent their family weekends and vacations. 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. 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 very much look forward to doing that and continuing to work with the USFS, as well as the public, during the process. Use the widget below to browse documents associated with this project. Ive been there, done that. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Cookies must be enabled to use this tool. 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. This indicates that for the last 18 months, the Lodges corporate affairs have been conducted by POWDRs legal department,' the memo said. 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. 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. Please call or message about having items shipped directly to you, as they make the perfect gift! A photo of Holland Lake in Montana (U.S. Forest Service via Flickr). Buying a home for the first time can be terrifyingly intimidating A pre-approval letter from a lender makes your offer stronger. Grizzly bears? 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. He said POWDR, based in Utah, can make the investments necessary to build an eco-friendly resort, upgrade parts of the property in disrepair, and maintain it all. You can cancel at any time. Holland Lake Lodge operates on public land in the Flathead National Forest under the special use permit, which is valid through 2036. 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. He wants to eventually extend the operating season from 135 days to 220 days, from April 1 through Oct. 30, and to be open the week of Thanksgiving and Christmas. 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. 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. Charming rustic lakeside cabins, a proud main lodge circa 1947, and to-die-for food.. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. As always, we are grateful to the community and all those who have made comments and welcome their feedback regarding our plans at www.hollandlakefuture.com. 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. 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. The old gift shop and cabins would be removed. Learn More Stay 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. 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. I just have no trust there.. 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.. But the plan has not been popular with the public, in part because the Forest Service said it may not complete a full environmental assessment or more extensive environmental impact statement, or EIS, before approving the project. 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. 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. 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. 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. After getting few nibbles, he againlisted itwith a Bozeman realtor in 2019 for $3.49 million. Ive hung 98% of the signage down Highway 83, Siloti said with a laugh. Holland Lake Lodge, Inc. Master Development Plan details building and infrastructure improvements, enhancing the visitor experience, within the current permitted area. 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. We have enough people here to make a civilization, but its not a city, and nobody wants that here, Parcell said. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Then, in 2017, he put it up for sale. 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. Similarly, when Blacktail. Holland Lake Lodge operates on public land in the Flathead National Forest under the special use permit, which is valid through 2036. Its a very healthy business and its in the most beautiful place in the whole world.. Located on the north side of Holland Lake near the East Holland Connector Trail (trail# 415) Trailhead. 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. Wohlfeil has alwaystoutedthe propertys rustic charm and intimate feel but talked about wanting to make more improvements. I have an attachment myself, but Im also really excited for someone new to come in and do what they want to do.. POWDR said in a statement it intends to submit a new plan that wont compromise on scale., Once someone like that has their foot in the door, next year, what will their next proposal be? Siloti said.