A beloved Sawtooths destination could get a facelift if Redfish Lake Lodge's application to build a new convenience store and change its front parking area is approved.
The U.S. Forest Service wants to hear public opinion on the proposal, which would replace the existing convenience store with a larger one, separate vehicle from pedestrian traffic and take steps to preserve the lodge's history.
Lodge General Manager Jeff Clegg said traffic congestion is the worst problem, and is in immediate need of fixing.
"Right now, it's a little more like New Jersey on some weekends than the Sawtooths," Clegg said. "We do everything we can, but when you've got a lot more demand than you have spaces, people get creative with their parking."
The greatest safety concern, Clegg said, is that children and lodge guests continually cross the parking area to reach the existing general store and public restrooms. Many of the vehicles pull boats and trailers, limiting mobility and creating complicated bottlenecks.
Clegg said he convinced the Forest Service of the need for parking changes by climbing up on the roof of the lodge and filming the parking lot with a video camera for five minutes, then showing rangers the tape.
"It's just a matter of time before someone gets hurt," he said.
The proposed plan would create more parking in front of the new store and force traffic to travel one way when driving past the lodge. Guests would not need to cross the driveway or parking lots to reach either the new store or the bathrooms from the beach or lodge.
Building a new store, however, raises concerns for the lodge area's designation as a historical district. Though the store itself was built in the 1970s, any new building would have to blend in with the lodge and guest cabins, built in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The original buildings are traditional log construction, while the new store would be built from concrete logs and include other modern materials such as metal porch roofing.
Sarah Baldwin, area ranger for the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, said the impacts of the new building would be minimal, though not nonexistent.
"When people are looking at it, they'll know there is this newer structure here," she said.
According to a Forest Service press release, the new building would incorporate a general store and eight new lodge rooms. The new rooms will include king-sized beds—the only king-sized beds available at Redfish—along with the only connected bathrooms on the property.
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Clegg said the lodge and guest cabins currently average 90 percent occupancy, with demand exceeding the number of rooms during busy periods.
"From mid-June to Labor Day, we're at 100 percent," he said.
The building would be 5 feet shorter than the lodge, and therefore would not be visible from the lake or the beach.
To make up for any lost historical character, the lodge has agreed to two major changes that would help preserve and even improve the vintage feel of the lodge area. The most visible change will be moving the original log gas station, built in 1931, to the lakefront. Now being used as a bike shack, the relocated building would house exhibits on the history of the lodge and also serve as a stage for live music.
"Right now, it's tucked in a corner in the parking area," Baldwin said. "It has some character, and by moving it into this area, it will be more front and center."
All future development will be guided by a comprehensive plan intended to make sure the lodge's character is protected.
Baldwin said that though this plan is not as visible to the public as moving the gas house would be, it would actually have more of an impact on the lodge.
"When new development is planned, we will have identified what are those features we are trying to preserve and protect about the [lodge area], so we're not unnecessarily impacting those," she said. "That will be a wonderful tool."
Public comment on the proposal is required because the lodge operates on the Sawtooth National Recreation Area under permits issued by the Forest Service. No federal funding will go toward the project, which will be fully paid for by the lodge and revenue from the eight new rooms.
"You take the lodge rooms out of it, we can't do this project," Clegg said. "It rests on our shoulders to fund the project."
He said construction could begin as early as fall 2012. The Forest Service will accept comment until Sept. 10, 2011, then consider whether to approve the application. Comments can be emailed to comments-intermtn-sawtooth-nra@fs.fed.us or mailed to Dave Fluetsch at the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, 5 North Fork Canyon Rd., Ketchum ID 83340.
Despite the changes the new building and traffic flow will make to the lodge, Clegg said, he believes lodge visitors will find them to be for the better.
"We think it's the right thing long term, and we think it will fix a lot of problems," he said. "It's a great project."
Katherine Wutz: kwutz@mtexpress.com
Redfish Lake Lodge proposal
To view a copy of the proposed changes at Redfish Lake Lodge, please click here.
Courtesy graphic
The proposed new building at Redfish Lake Lodge, above, would be located on the southwest side of the main lodge, in the area where the existing convenience store is.
