What is Happening?
A Timeline of Events
Without public knowledge, the Master Development Plan (MDP) was submitted to the USDA Forest Service on April 15, 2022 by HHL and POWDR.
On September 1, 2022 the Forest Service notified the public (via the USDA website and via draft notification letter to “Interested Parties”) about the Holland Lake Lodge Expansion Project. Click here for Scoping Package.
Holland Lake Lodge leases public land along Holland Lake under a forest service lease and special-use permit.
The Expansion project involves some but not all of the following: Destruction of 9 historic buildings and the removal of a hundred trees or more, a construction project ensuing with the building of 32 new structures—a 28 room, 13000 square foot lodge, 10 lakeshore cabins, 16 more “bunkie” cabins, an expanded restaurant, a welcome center, employee housing, a watersports building, multiple RV sites, and among other things, the reconstruction of a public water treatment plant to be controlled in perpetuity by POWDR Corp.
Supervisor Steele notes in his notification letter that the proposal will go forward as a Categorical Exclusion, unworthy of any environmental assessments.
Excerpt from a September 7, 2022 article in the Missoula Current. “Public comment might not do much to change the project. 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. If that’s the case, the Forest Service won’t conduct an environmental assessment or impact statement, and the scoping period will be the only opportunity for the public to provide comment.”
The public has 20 days (from September 1st) to comment with the comment period ending September 21st, 2022. (Update as of Sept 14: The comment period has been extended to October 7th)
No where in the notification letter or the scoping package does the Forest Service mention POWDR Corp, the newly minted partner of Christian Wohlfeil, long-time leaseholder, permit holder, and owner of Holland Lake Lodge.
POWDR, who serves as the main contact for the project and whose name is also on the submission documents of the Master Development Plan (along with Holland Lake Lodge) is a multi-million dollar mega corporation out of Park City, Utah specializing in developing World Class Ski Resorts, Extreme Mountain Bike Parks, and Adventure Tourism. (It’s worth it to view their website and then imagine this at Holland Lake.)
On the very same day that Supervisor Steele informed un-knowing Montanans about the expansion of Holland Lake Lodge, POWDR also made an announcement on their website proclaiming their enthusiasm in expanding and developing Holland Lake Lodge by stating, “POWDR has built its brand on the premise of delivering soulful experiences that matter to guests and reflect the local community,” said Justin Sibley, CEO of POWDR. “Holland Lake Lodge is a soulful place, where families spend time in the outdoors with the people they love. We look forward to continuing this legacy.”
On September 1, in its notification letter, The USDA Forest Service also informed the public that there would be a public meeting on September 8, 2022 held at Holland Lake Lodge. Because the Forest Service did not widely advertise this (nor their well-developed plans to irrevocably alter Holland Lake and the Lodge), hundreds of constituents across Montana didn’t find out about this project nor the meeting until around September 6, when word of the project began spreading like wildfire across social media—two days before the one and only public meeting.
Click here to listen to Travis Cole’s account of what that meeting was like. Travis told this first-hand account to his wife (who recorded it) the night of the meeting. This audio is shared with permission.
Grassroots organizing.
September 10th. Hands off Holland Facebook group is formed by a concerned citizen. As of September 15th, there are 1100 members.
September 10th. Forest Service comments are at about 200.
September 12th. In conjunction with Hands off Holland, www.savehollandlake.com is formed along with Public Facebook Page for the purpose of public sharing. www.facebook.com/savehollandlake. As of September 15th, there are 263 Followers who share posts for the cause.
September 13th. The Save Holland Lake poster is made by a local family. By that afternoon, it is being distributed all around Missoula. Distribution continues in multiple communities, along with HANDS OFF HOLLAND bumper stickers.
September 14th. Forest Service comments rise by roughly 800 comments in one day to 1990.
By September 15th at 5pm. The numbers are at 2,818.
Nearly all, if not all, of the public comments are Opposed.
Hundreds of people and multiple organizations now sharing widely on their social media platforms and to their followers.
September 14th. Forest Service Supervisor Kurtis Steele issues a press release announcing the comment period has been extended to October 7th with a second Public Meeting on October 4th from 530-730 at the Seeley Lake Elementary School.
As of September 15th (5pm), the press release which was emailed 24 hours ago, “notifying” the public, has still not been posted on the Forest Service website nor is there any mention of an extension on the Forest Service Website. There is a folder titled Public Meeting 2 with details about a meeting on October 4th. No mention of extension.
Click the following to access the “extension to comment period” press release that the Forest Service has neglected to announce on their website.
TO BE CONTINUED soon…
September 8, 2022. Approximately 120-150 people in attendance. (That is a guesstimate). The Lodge has a vast green lawn next to the lake that could have held people comfortably, but instead the meeting was held in a dry field with no chairs available. People were not allowed to publicly comment, but were told to go to different stations to write down comments and talk amongst themselves. There was little to no presentation.
Public Meeting at Holland Lake Lodge
Proposed Improvements
Nine Structures totalling 4,990 square feet will be torn down.
Thirty two structures totalling 23,300 square feet are planned to be built.
That is a 466% increase in size.
Excerpts from September 7 article in Missoula Current:
“Wohlfeil said such changes were needed for the Lodge to thrive.”
Christian’s statement in POWDR’s press release: “I have managed Holland Lake Lodge for 20 years and it is a truly special place where people have come to recreate for nearly 100 years. However, for Holland Lake to thrive, the resort needs some TLC,” said Christian Wohlfeil, owner of Holland Lake Lodge. “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.”
Currently, on the Holland Lake Lodge Website, it states:
“Christian Wohlfeil, the present owner for the last 20 years, has partnered with a phenomenal company to transition the Lodge to the next chapter. Together, they look forward to expanding guest services and activities, while preserving the unique and special character of what is here now. Christian will remain actively involved in the general operation and management through the transition.”
As of this writing, Christian has declined to comment on the many articles being written about the project.
We will continue to update this list, but you can find more by googling.
The Black X’s represent the trees to be cut down. In our estimation it is about 200. To our knowledge, the plan doesn’t state the amount.
