Two businessmen who are proposing to buy Holland Lake Lodge have submitted a special use authorization for the historic resort.
And on Monday, the Flathead National Forest announced they had accepted that application from Eric Jacobsen and Thomas Knowles. The business and lodge buildings are private property that sit on federally-owned public land.
The application is not for an expansion, but rather to operate the lodge within the existing footprint and facilities.
Public comments are now being accepted on the application and can be submitted until midnight on May 7.
"Holland Lake Lodge has provided a unique recreation opportunity for national forest visitors for one hundred years,Ƶ said Flathead forest supervisor Anthony Botello. ƵThe 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.Ƶ
An aerial view of Holland Lake Lodge.
In a scoping letter, Botello said he is proposing to authorize a 20-year special use permit to Jacobsen and Knowles.
He also said that based on a preliminary assessment, the authorization would come with a categorical exclusion, meaning the project would be excluded from an environmental impact statement or an environmental assessment.
The lodge was listed for sale in 2023 by currentƵپWohlfeil. Before that, Wohlfeil entered into an agreement to redevelop the resort with a Utah-based company called POWDR. However, there was a large public outcry, the redevelopment plans were never approved and Wohlfeil dropped the partnership.
In October of 2024, Jacobsen and Knowles entered into a purchase agreement for the lodge. Their proposal includes operating seven days a week from June through October. There is no proposed expansion of the resort and only minor maintenance of existing facilities is planned.
Eric Jacobsen answers Swan Valley residents' questions regarding the potential sale of the Holland Lake Lodge during a community meeting at the Condon Public Library on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
Stewards of the Swan Valley, a Condon-based nonprofit, issued a statement about the application from president Grace Siloti and vice president Fred Clark.
ƵStewards of the Swan Valley, and other members of the public, will ask the U.S. Forest Service for the specific details on this proposal to grant a new permit to these Utah businessmen," the statement said. "WeƵll ask the tough questions to make sure that we protect our public land and can determine what these new owners propose to do with this Swan Valley and Montana icon, Holland Lake Lodge, on our public land. 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. The public has spoken, and will again, and wants to ensure our access to this public land and keep it safe from overdevelopment.Ƶ
The lodge is located about an hour and a half northeast of Missoula.
To submit a comment or for more information about the application, please visit and select Holland Lake Lodge Special Use Permit Issuance Proposal.