There were smiles and positive vibes at Silver Rapids Lodge a couple weeks back as developers showed off their plans for renovating and remodeling the historic resort on White Iron Lake.
While we’ve learned not to get too optimistic about any development proposed for the Ely area, this time around the winds seem to have shifted and support for the project appears more widespread and public.
Maybe those of us with common sense learned a thing or two from last time, when a vocal and persistent group of opponents - many from outside the area - aimed fire at Silver Rapids and Lake County itself and brought the first plans for development to a halt.
Lessons were learned and the owners have gone back to the drawing board, tweaking plans a bit and completing an environmental assessment worksheet for review.
Thankfully, the investors haven’t given up on the project or Ely itself.
They’re still looking at a project that might reach $50 million when all is said and done.
Yet it’s not as large as initially proposed, with the number of docking spaces cut from 90 to 52, with plans for a Tiki bar shelved and the number of overall units cut by five.
The project will also be done in phases, with the first being to tear down the existing lodge building and replace it with a new structure that would include a restaurant, bar, swimming pool and outdoor hot tub.
A $50 million project involves serious money, and that kind of investment will not only result in an impressive, revamped business in Fall Lake Township but an extraordinary sign of good faith in our community.
A facility like this can only serve to benefit the region and the local economy and frankly, we’re struggling to see how anyone can line up in opposition.
If sentiment at the public meeting was any indication, we’re not alone and we’re cautiously optimistic that the Silver Rapids project will gain enough traction to overcome the “antis” this time around.
All too often, we’ve seen a few rise up and put a kibosh to development efforts locally. An RV park in Spaulding and the Silver Rapids plans a couple years back come immediately to mind.
We’ve stated before that if the Grand Ely Lodge were proposed today, people would come out of the woodwork to stop it on similar grounds. Too much traffic, the impact on the lake, you name it.
If Ely is going to continue to be a tourism destination it must adapt with the times and provide the amenities that visitors want.
A revamped Silver Rapids Lodge will do just that.
Best wishes to the developers and thanks for your continued faith in our community.
