Holland Lake Lodge in Condon is located on Flathead National Forest property within Missoula County. It operates under a special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service. In light of a recent proposal to expand the property, residents in Seeley Lake, Condon and other areas of the county have contacted the Commissioners’ Office and other departments asking about the property. The following is a compilation of these frequently asked questions.

The U.S. Forest Service, not Missoula County, determines whether to issue a special use permit that allows for the lodge’s operation on Forest Service land. The USFS can, but is not required to, stipulate in their permits whether the permit holder must comply with local and state regulations outside of state health regulations, such as local building codes.

Yes. There is a food service license and a public accommodations (also called a lodging) license. The 2023 food inspection report can be found online.

Additionally, Missoula County has issued building and septic permits for structures on the property, after completion of state-required inspections and permitting through the Department of Environmental Quality. The public can view building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits filed by searching for the Lodge on the GIS property information site.

Missoula County can deny a permit or license if an entity does not meet the requirements for it. If an entity meets all the requirements for the permit or license for which they applied, the County must approve it. The County cannot deny a permit/license based solely on public sentiment around a project. Missoula County cannot discriminate against private property owners based on factors unrelated to the substance of a permit/license.

All building permits for the “caretaker cabin” on the property had expired previously, and a Notice of Violation was filed on the property. The property owner worked with the County's Building Division to bring the property into compliance, and the Notice of Violation was removed. The property is currently in compliance with all county permits.  

In this case, the Notice of Violation was for not completing the final inspection once all work was done. Periodic inspections throughout the process were completed and all work was found to be in compliance. 

In the case of violations, Missoula County’s general approach is to work with a property owner to bring them into compliance with applicable codes. Legal action, such as taking a property owner to court, is reserved for extreme cases where public health and/or safety are at risk.

On May 25, the Missoula County commissioners sent a letter to Kurt Steele, former supervisor of the Flathead National Forest. In the letter, the commissioners ask for a longer public comment period “as part of any consideration of the issuance or re-issuance of a Special Use Permit” for the Lodge. The letter also requested that the Forest Service require any permit holder to comply with local and state regulations.