After being derailed by vocal opponents and legal entanglements, plans to expand Silver Rapids Lodge appear to have been revived.
While details remain sketchy at best, and public documents were not released as of press time, social media posts indicate that owners will make another stab at expanding and renovating the business on White Iron Lake.
The owners say they’ve submitted a new proposal to expand the resort and will share more on Monday, June 22, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., at the resort.
In a post on the Silver Rapids Lodge Facebook page, the owners said “Over the last 18 months we’ve listened, learned and engineered an adjusted plan for Silver Rapids Lodge. The redevelopment commitments are unique, expansive, expensive and many … but we have listened and learned. ”
Those were the first substantive comments regarding the potential expansion since late-2024, when petitioners brought legal action to block the Silver Rapids expansion,.
At the time, Silver Rapids had proposed a $45 million development that called 49 cabins, 68 boat slips, employee/workforce housing and more at the resort.
The proposed expansion was cleared by both Lake County’s planning commission and county board, but there was pushback during the permitting process and afterward.
Petition drives led to legal action and ultimately action by Silver Rapids Lodge to withdraw its plans.
According to the Facebook page, Silver Rapids submitted a new proposal to Lake County on June 12 “that includes amongst other things; a reduction in the number of units, docks, and waterfront amenities to reduce traffic and improve ecological habitat. We are also in the final stages of completion of a Voluntary Environmental Assessment Worksheet.”
“We know this land is special, and take the redevelopment and stewardship of it very seriously,” the business posted on Facebook. “We have also seen and heard far more local support for this project than a ‘chosen few’ would like you to know. ”
Silver Rapids gave up its permits after being hit by two lawsuits, one by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and another by Community Advocates for Responsible Development, which is represented by at Twin Cities attorney and says over 400 people signed a petition against the development.
In the suit filed by CARD, plaintiffs allege that the county had a duty to determine if Silver Rapids’ applications for a conditional use permit ran afoul of current ordinances.
They also contend that the Silver Rapids’ plan ran counter to development density provisions already in place and that the county had a duty to allow development densities “at or below those maximum allowed.”
Amid the legal dispute, Silver Rapids subsequently gave up its permits, although the developers retained their rights to submit future applications for conditional use permits or planned unit developments “in a manner consistent with applicable state law and local ordinances.
Silver Rapids acknowledged the opposition in the Facebook post and returned some fire, saying “People are afraid of showing support in fear of retaliation?! C’mon - That’s not only disappointing, but a sad look for our community. Our hope is we all share the common ideal of sharing our lakes, our hospitality and our natural resources with anyone and everyone … not just the entitled and elite.”
When taking legal action, project opponents said the county violated its own rules and that the project as proposed was “environmentally injurious to White Iron, Farm and Garden lakes, the Superior National Forest and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.”
Plans initially called for the demolition of the main lodge, five existing cabins, other buildings on the property and the removal of RVs and mobile homes onsite.
Seven existing cabins were to be remodeled along with the motel, garage and fish cleaning house.
Silver Rapids would also add a new main lodge building that would include a check-in facility, bar/restaurant, gift shop, pool, sauna and spas.
The new cabins which would be timeshare units, would be constructed over the three phases.
It’s not clear what portions of the original project would be cut and what would remain in a revised permitting request.
The project is a joint venture between Silver Rapids’ current owners and Storie Company, which focuses on independent resorts in the Midwest with an emphasis on recreational tourism.
While details have yet to merge, Silver Rapids said on Facebook that the resort “is reimagined as a solvent, sustainable and accessible destination for generations to come.”
