Lake County opens public review for Silver Rapids Lodge expansion plan

Lake County opened public review of the Silver Rapids Lodge expansion plan, giving residents until Aug. 6 to weigh in on a revised resort proposal in Fall Lake Township.

The county’s notice sets the comment period from July 7 through Aug. 6, 2026, and accepts written comments only. Those comments must be sent to Environmental Services Director Bryr Ludington by 4 p.m. on Aug. 6. The Environmental Assessment Worksheet can be reviewed at the Lake County Planning and Zoning office in the courthouse or on the county website.

The review covers 48.47 acres at 459 Kawishiwi Trail in Ely, on parcels 28-6311-29850 and 28-6311-32070. The project, proposed by Leisure Hotels and Resorts, calls for demolition of a functionally obsolete lodge, construction of a new lodge, 44 new cabins and other amenities on the shoreland property in Fall Lake Township. The company is also seeking a conditional use permit for the project, which would remain subject to county review after the environmental process.

The EAW was published in the state’s EQB Monitor on July 7 and compiled by ISG, Inc. on behalf of Leisure Hotels and Resorts and its president, Jamie Tatge. The document runs 277 pages and the latest version is a revised plan with 57 lodging units total, down from 61 in the earlier proposal, along with fewer boat slips than before. June open house materials included a new main lodge with a restaurant, tiki bar, pool and spa, plus a centralized check-in facility, gift shop, sauna and fish-cleaning house.

Lake County approved an earlier version of the resort expansion on Sept. 6, 2024, but the project later was withdrawn after lawsuits by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Community Advocates for Responsible Development. The earlier plan had called for up to 49 new fractional-share cabins and dock space for up to 75 boats.

Public opposition was visible at the 2024 hearing, when about 90 people crowded into a 60-seat town hall and about 30 more stood outside. CARD also gathered more than 400 signatures against the earlier plan. In the latest version, Jamie Tatge said the design changes were meant to align with county and DNR density standards, while co-owner Sandy Hoff said the project’s cost had climbed to about $50 million because of delays and higher costs.

The site sits between White Iron Lake and Farm Lake, near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. After Aug. 6, the county will move the proposal through its next land-use and environmental steps before any final decision.