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While we understand the concerns of the neighbors, the proposed redevelopment of Silver Rapids Lodge/Resort would be a welcome improvement to our area.
The project was pitched at a public meeting on July 18 to a packed house at the Fall Lake town hall. Neighbors voiced their concerns on the size of the project which has been estimated to be $45 million when all three phases are completed.
Setting aside some wild claims about impacting the loon population, the project will likely face conditions from Lake County from the number of dock spaces to the number of total units.
What was missing from the discussion was the current state of the resort and how this will be a major improvement. The new owners have already upgraded the septic systems and the project will provide stormwater controls where none exist now. The campground area is removed and the gravel pit area will be transformed.
The same owners of this project have facilities on the North Shore and Gull Lake. These are top-notch places run professionally that are a benefit, not a detriment to the area they are located in.
We spoke with Jamie Tatge, one of the owners, and project manager Rod Gruba (whose family operated Silver Rapids from 1975 to 1992), the day after the hearing. They answered our questions and allayed concerns raised the night before.
Here are some of the responses given:
• “I think it’s a great project, it will provide a tremendous amount of upside for the area. Every project we’ve done like this in the past attracts like-minded people.”
• “Our goal is to keep all the big trees. We want to keep the character. This is a resort and a real estate development at the end of the day.”
• “It will be run more like a family resort where at 10 or 11 at night, it gets shut down.”
• “When your look at the things we’re removing to make sure all things are compliant to 2025 standards, this is a huge positive impact.”
• “Phase one would start this fall and consists of 15 new units, the renovation of cabins one to five and the retreat and the construction of the new lodge. That would open sometime mid to late summer 2025. And then beyond that phase two and phase three depends on supply and demand. We would anticipate a three to five-year buildout.”
• “Our operations office is out of Baxter, but we operate from Oregon to Vermont. Most communities are 80 to 4,000 people so we understand how to be a good neighbor.”
• “Sandy Hoff and myself are the partners, collectively we have ownership in Pier B, Cove Point, North Shore Camping, the Rustic Inn and Quarterdeck. We also manage the Adventure Inn in Ely.”
• “We’re going to remove six cabins and those are large cabins, most are for six people or more and and three park models are gone.”
• “We intend on all the renovation to use all local guys and general contractors working with local subs on the bigger part of the project.”
• “We are going to be the most expensive place on the lake. We believe the people who want to come to this market want an upscale experience. There isn’t that here right now for that higher-end experience. There are a lot of nice resorts but this will provide a different opportunity.”
• Gruba: “When we did the expansion with the restaurant we went through the same thing with the county, it was the same situation. And after we started feeding people, it was good.”
• “I would hope on Aug. 8 we’d be able to get to a decision on what would be considered for the project. Typically what happens is you go through the process and you’re encouraged to put the whole project out there so they can look at parts that need to be modified or changed.”
