The Flathead National Forest has granted an operating permit to the new owners of the Holland Lake Lodge south of Condon.

Earlier this spring, the Forest Service sought public comment before issuing a 20-year permit for operating the historic lodge to Eric Jacobsen and Thomas Knowles. The two men are affiliated with Utah-based investment firm Gratitude Railroad. Jacobsen grew up in Great Falls and spent time at Holland Lake as a child. 

The recent sale of the lodge, which dates back to the 1940s after a building from the 1920s was destroyed by a fire, marks the end of a tumultuous period for the property. In 2022, a developer from Utah, POWDR, reached an agreement with the lodge’s previous owner, Christian Wohlfeil, to significantly expand the resort. The plan included demolishing 10 structures and constructing new ones, such as a 13,000-square-foot building known as the “Bob Marshall Lodge,” which would feature 28 rooms. The expansion aimed to increase the capacity at Holland Lake Lodge from 50 guests per night to 156. 

But the backlash against that plan was swift, largely spearheaded by a grassroots group called Save Holland Lake. One of the group’s concerns was that the expansion would draw more tourists and lead to increased development in the often-overlooked Swan Valley. “As this project goes, so goes the valley,” Seeley Lake resident Bill Lombardi said at the time. “This valley is still the old Montana we love, and this development is the exact opposite of that.” 

In late 2022, the Flathead National Forest rejected POWDR’s proposal, primarily because it aimed to expand the resort beyond the 10.53-acre footprint permitted by the current regulations. While POWDR officials vowed to try again, those plans ultimately did not materialize. 

In 2023, the resort was again put on the market, and in October 2024, Jacobsen and Knowles entered into a purchase agreement. At that time, Jacobsen told Montana Public Radio that he wanted to “preserve and protect the lodge and the lodge experience in harmony with nature and the community.” The proposal submitted to the U.S. Forest Service stated that the new owners, operating as Holland Peak LLC, have no plans to expand the lodge.

“Holland Lake Lodge is a historic lodge that has provided recreation opportunities for 100 years. Providing a diverse range of recreation services is a valued resource for the community, a driver for the local economy, and helps improve visitor access to the surrounding National Forest Lands – all desired conditions identified in our Forest Plan,” said Forest Supervisor Anthony Botello in a press release. “I look forward to working with the new owners and community to continue this opportunity into the future.”

The lodge generally operates from June to October. The Forest Service is currently reviewing the new company’s operating plan for 2025.

Justin Franz is a freelance writer, photographer and editor based in Whitefish and can be reached at [email protected].