We need you to speak out against a proposal to create a four-season resort at Holland Lake, on public land just outside of the Bob Marshall Wilderness and recommended wilderness on the Flathead National Forest in Montana. The Forest Service (FS) appears ready to approve via Categorical Exclusion a major development plan, despite the threats and impacts to Wilderness, wildlife, and public use of national forest land that belongs to all of us. Holland Lake Lodge was built in 1924 and last updated in 1947. The seasonal lodge and its restaurant operate under a Special Use Permit (SUP), hosting up to 45 guests a night in the summer. The SUP requires the FS to approve of any changes to the facilities. The proposed expansion at Holland Lake is a partnership between the lodge’s current owner and the commercial “adventure lifestyle company” POWDR, based out of Park City, UT. POWDR is one of the largest ski resort operators in the country, with luxury resorts across the west, including a major heliskiing operation. Their business model and the proposal at Holland Lake suggest they would turn what is now a small, rustic, locally-owned business into a destination for the ultra-rich. Wilderness Watch has a number of concerns with the Holland Lake Lodge plan, which includes building 32 new buildings and other infrastructure: a 28-room, 13,000 square-foot, 2-story,“Bob Marshall Lodge,” 26 cabins, a 2,000 square-foot welcome center, a 3,000 square-foot “Mission Mountains Restaurant” with indoor seating for 100 and outdoor seating for 30, a watersport building, a maintenance building, employee housing, four rental cabins, two stock trailer pads, a livestock corral, and more. Nearly 200 large trees could be cut down for the development. All of this would accommodate 156 guests—more than three times the current number of summer guests—year-round. And if all this weren’t bad enough on its face, the owner has hinted there may be more “improvements” to come, which, based on its other operations could include heliskiing and heli-hiking in the Missions and Swan Range, mountain biking and bike races, trail running, and other high-impact “wreckreation.” The impacts from this development would be felt far beyond the immediate area, which is already facing increased development and recreation pressure. The commercialization of the area and the resulting hordes of people who could be here year-round would impact public lands surrounding the area, including the Bob Marshall Wilderness and recommended wilderness. The “Bob” is one of the crown jewels of the Wilderness System, with some of the best habitat for grizzly bears, lynx, wolverine, elk, and other native wildlife, and more humans in the area would both harm wildlife that need secure habit and wilderness values such as solitude. There could also be more air traffic (both airplane and helicopter) negatively impacting the Wilderness via motorized sightseeing, heliskiing or heli-hiking. The proposal also enlarges the trailhead parking for access to the Wilderness, and the new owners have touted expanded opportunities for commercial outfitting and guiding, facilitating yet more human use. Please urge the FS to reject the proposed Holland Lake Lodge expansion—comments are due October 7. Submit your comments online: https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=61746 Please use your own words, but consider the following points: |
