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11 Most Endangered
Kootenai Lodge
Year Listed: 2006
Location: Bigfork , Montana
Current Status: Endangered
Threat: Development
View of the Kottenai Lodge shoreline in the fall.
Credit: National Trust for Historic Preservation
Significance
One of the most significant historic places in Northwest Montana, Kootenai Lodge Historic District consists of 20 buildings, including a Main Lodge (built in the early 20th century), several smaller lodges, dining halls and various cabins. The buildings range in size from the humble quarters of the hired help to the magnificent lodge and living quarters for residents and guests. Almost all the structures are built of cedar and larch logs, hand-peeled to retain the colorful and delicate cambium layer as a decorative touch, and all nestle into the landscape as if they have been here forever. To compliment the remarkable log buildings, the landscape was designed with a variety of native and exotic trees and shrubs. Man-made elements, such as stone bridges, gravel walks, arbors and seating areas are scattered throughout the property. Designed to take advantage of the open vistas of the meadow and seclusion of the wooded areas, these spaces enhance the visual appeal and natural serenity of the lake and nearby mountains.
Updates
The Kootenai Lodge Historic District was selected as an Endangered Place because it was threatened with development of an extremely insensitive nature. An out-of-state development team purchased the historic property with plans to build 42 condominiums, 24 boat slips, a pool and new road within the rustic landscape. The plan required the demolition of several structures and the alteration of all remaining historic buildings.
A valiant and determined effort led by the Swan Lakers, a local grassroots group, to curb the proposed development persisted for more than two years following the listing. The group's main goal was to decrease development density to protect the integrity of the historic structures and site. The developers were unwilling to alter their plans to sensitively address the preservation of the historic character of the site, and a lack of zoning regulations in Lake County left the advocates with little regulatory oversight.
In response, the Swan Lakers pushed for zoning regulations that would favor historic preservation by taking legal action, which ultimately went to the Montana Supreme Court, over a flawed review process in the subdivision platting. Although many buildings on the site have been dismantled or incompatibly altered, and many of the old-growth trees have been cut down, the opposition was successful in ensuring that similar, future projects will have more oversight and regard to historic and cultural properties. In November 2008, the Lake County Planning Board voted unanimously to pass the Lake County Subdivision Regulation Update that included all of the suggested changes under the July 2008 settlement agreement. This includes, among many other improvements, that Lake County shall consider density and the impact to the natural environment, including historical features, as criteria in subdivision approval. The Lake County commissioners have yet to approve these changes.
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