Flathead National Forest seeks public input on Holland Lake Lodge application

Incoming owners of the Holland Lake Lodge are awaiting approval to operate the historic 101-year-old property under a special-use permit from the Flathead National Forest.

In an announcement this week, the Flathead National Forest requested public input on the proposed permit, which would allow Eric Jacobsen and Thomas Knowles, as Holland Peak LLC, to operate the lodge each year from June through October with its existing footprint.

Forest Supervisor Anthony Botello said in a Forest Service scoping letter that he is proposing to authorize a 20-year special-use permit for the lodge, a private business operating on public land.

The proposed permit includes offering guest accommodations, dining and beverage services, including liquor sale, merchandise sales, hosting special events, and offering canoe and kayak rentals. Staffing would include a full-time lodge manager, a full-time maintenance manager, and food and beverage manager.

“There is no proposed expansion of Holland Lake Lodge with this proposal, and only minor maintenance of existing facilities is proposed focused on public and employee safety,” according to the scoping letter.

The application will undergo an environmental analysis, which is required by the National Environmental Policy Act, and includes a public comment period.

Holland Lake Lodge has been under public scrutiny for several years after the public learned that longtime owner Christian Wohlfeil was proposing a sale to outdoor adventure company POWDR and an accompanying expansion plan to build an additional lodge and 26 cabin structures on the property.

The plan drew public outcry for it’s rushed timeframe and a determination that the expansion did not need an environmental analysis.  The Forest Service received more than 6,000 submitted comments from individuals, elected officials and conservation groups. The Forest Service later rejected the plan, but said it would consider other proposals.

Wohlfeil listed the property for sale in October of 2023. Late last year, Jacobsen, a private equity investor, announced he had secured a contract to purchase the lodge.

Jacobsen grew up in Montana and now splits his time between Whitefish and Park City, Utah. He has stated in public meetings held prior to the purchase agreement that his intention is to “Preserve and protect the lodge and the lodge experience in harmony with nature into the future” and not develop the property.

In the months prior to entering into the contract, Jacobsen held a series of meetings with community stakeholders to assess their vision for the property and share his own. The meetings received a mixed reception from locals and visitors who want to see the property preserved as-is, but also understood the need for investment to keep it operational.

One grassroots group that formed to advocate for the preservation of the Lodge and surrounding area, Stewards of the Swan Valley, even proposed acquiring the lodge on its own and taking a “home-grown” approach to running the lodge.

In a press release sent Wednesday, Stewards of the Swan Valley President Grace Siloti and Vice President Fred Clark said they plan to “ask the tough questions” to determine what Jacobsen and Knowles will do with the property and make sure the lodge and surrounding area is adequately protected.

“Any new business there should be respectful of our land, the clean air and water, wildlife and open spaces that make Montana so special. The previous attempt to triple the size of the lodge and create a destination resort at Holland Lake met strong public opposition,” they said in a joint statement. “The public has spoken, and will again, and wants to ensure our access to this public land and keep it safe from overdevelopment.”

If the Forest Service grants the new permit, it is unclear just how much of the property would be operational this year.

In 2024, the lodge’s 100th anniversary year, there were no public services provided due to deficiencies in the wastewater treatment system, which serves both the lodge facilities and nearby campground. However, the Flathead National Forest has submitted a preliminary report for upgrades to the Department of Environmental Quality.

Due to the public outcry over the previously submitted expansion plan, Botello wrote in the scoping letter that while the new permit would be excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment — due to the new permit merely replacing the existing one under new owners — he plans to document all steps of the decision.

“Holland Lake Lodge has provided a unique recreation opportunity for national forest visitors for one hundred years,” Botello said in a statement. “The resort has served as a destination for forest visitors to enjoy the Flathead National Forest and I look forward to working with the new owners and community to continue this opportunity into the future.”

The Flathead National Forest will host a community meeting on April 17 to provide information and answer questions about reissuing the permit for Holland Lake Lodge. The meeting will take place form 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Swan Valley Elementary School near Condon.

Public comments are now being accepted and can be submitted until 11:59 p.m., on May 7, 2025.

To submit a comment or for more information about the application, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/flathead/landmanagement/projects and select Holland Lake Lodge Special Use Permit Issuance Proposal.