Blazing trails to the future
Routes from Spirit Lake to Mount Spokane explored for tourism

Miles of trails and logging roads meander through public and private land stretching between Spirit Lake and Mount Spokane State Park.

Now the small North Idaho city is eyeing those trails as the cornerstone of an economic development effort it hopes will capture more of the region’s recreation-based tourism dollars.

A group would like to see a trailhead at Spirit Lake’s city beach, shuttles to the top of Mount Spokane so people can bicycle down, and a lakeside shop renting bikes, canoes and kayaks. They envision signs explaining the history of the area to riders along the way.

“We’re connecting the dots, basically,” said Marc Kroetch, a member of the economic development group and of the city’s first Parks and Recreation Commission, created to oversee the plan. The trails are “all existing right now, but there’s (been) no concerted effort to link it all together and market it as something.”

The idea is part of a larger economic development plan that includes improvements to the boat launch and swimming area, new sidewalks, streetlights and benches for the downtown and pedestrian paths from downtown to the lake, said City Councilwoman Shelley Tschida.

“I think we’re at a point where our community is ready to thrive,” Tschida said. “What we’re trying to do is thrive in a manner that’s pleasing to our residents. One of the things we’ve identified is recreation is important to the people who live in this community.”

Last spring an economic development group called Creating a Value-Added Community polled residents to determine what features they wanted to see in their city. Kroetch said one message that came through clearly is how disconnected the residents feel from the lake.

In addition, almost 70 percent said they wanted to see a rejuvenated downtown; 67 percent said they wanted to see bicycle and pedestrian paths and 61 percent said they welcomed additional economic development, the survey of 381 people shows.

The existing trail system roams across land owned by Inland Empire Paper Co. and the Idaho Department of Lands. IEP, a subsidiary of Cowles Co., which also owns The Spokesman-Review, provides access to its property for recreation with day passes and year-round permits, $10 and $65, respectively. Paul Buckland, forest resource manager, said he was approached by Kroetch with the trail system idea last fall.

“I said, ‘Put forth a proposal and I’ll consider it,’” he said.

Steve Christensen, park manager at Mount Spokane, said he supports projects that increase recreational opportunities for the public. If a shuttle bus system were created to deliver mountain bikers to the mountain as a starting point, amenities like restrooms, trash bins and a parking area would need to be provided. However, he added, they already exist in the park’s snowmobile parking area.

“It’s just another opportunity to provide recreation for the public,” he said. “That’s what we’re here for, to allow people to recreate, but also to protect the resource.”

Kroetch said he’d like to see the city aim for summer 2010 to launch the shuttle-assisted mountain bike rides.

“I haven’t run into any opposition to this plan from anybody,” he said. “The only thing I’ve found is – ‘I’ll believe it when I see it.’”

Contact Alison Boggs at (208) 765-7132 or alisonb@spokesman.com.

Spirit Lake Celebrates 100

Centennial activities to be held Thursday through Monday

SPIRIT LAKE -- Florence Estes has seen a lot of change in Spirit Lake since she moved there 25 years ago.

And she likes it.

"It was a smaller, quieter community, but since that time there's been good growth," she said. "It's continuously gone in the right direction, and it's still a great place to raise a family."

The town, once dominated by the timber industry, now has a bank and dentist office. There's a growing list of businesses that have converted eye sores into attractive places, she said.

Old timers, newcomers and youth have bonded for the common good of making Spirit Lake better, Estes said.

"The changes in our community have afforded the opportunity for many not to have to go to Spokane or Coeur d'Alene because we have all the services right here," she said. "I don't know we lack too much, plus we have a beautiful lake. You can go from one end of town to the other and it's a real compliment."

Estes said the community spirit especially shined during the past year for the town's Centennial celebration, which culminates with its grand finale Thursday night through Monday.

"The youth have worked on it, the older people have worked on it, everybody has worked on it," she said, adding that Youth Equipped for Success, the chamber, historical society and city have played roles.

When Becky Gaddum thinks of Spirit Lake's 100 years, survival comes to mind.

"Even though the (Panhandle) lumber mill burned down in '39, the town survived and is still surviving," said Gaddum, organizer of the Centennial's wine-tasting and auction fundraiser, which kicks things off Thursday at the City Park from 6-9 p.m.

"We've been busy, but it's been a lot of fun," Gaddum said.

The town has actually been celebrating all year, holding history skits, walking tours and an art contest. But the main event is Labor Day weekend, traditionally a happening time in Spirit Lake anyway.

"We've been having events about once a month," said Marc Kroetch, an organizer. "People have really put a lot of time and effort into this."

Highlights include:

• a mountain bicycle ride down Mount Spokane on Saturday morning;

• a mountain man encampment, blacksmithing, muzzle loaders, Dutch oven cooking and antique gas engines Saturday through Monday;

• music Saturday through Monday; and

• a parade on Maine Street at 11 a.m. Monday.

Liberty Lake Wine Cellars, Clearwater Canyon and Coeur d'Alene Wine Cellars will be featured during Thursday's fundraiser. Cost is $20 per person, which includes a Centennial wine glass and appetizers. Auction items include a Stoneridge weekend, lake cruise and lunch for four and gift baskets.

Kroetch said about 20 of 100 spots remain for the bike ride. Cost is $30 per person, which includes a breakfast, T-shirt and bus ride up Mount Spokane. Rides of 30 miles and 15 miles are available. To reserve a spot, call Kroetch at 623-5130.

The ride is a first-time event, and Kroetch said he's pleased with the interest.

"It's geared toward the whole family and has garnered the most interest of just about any of the events," Kroetch said, adding that it isn't a race and the longer ride takes about 4 hours. "If it works out well, we may be doing it again next year."

There will be a variety of music, craft vendors, a food court and heritage activities at the park throughout the weekend. There will also be a lawnmower race demonstration, teepee decorating and foot races.

"We've really tried to expand things for this year and not have it be the same old Labor Day activities in the park," Kroetch said. "It should be a fantastic event."

Estes said she can't wait.

"When you live here, you realize there's so much positive going on and that makes each day feel like it's a good place to be," she said.

Spirit Lake Kicking Off Centennial Year

Mary Jane Honegger - Correspondent

Captain Meriwether Lewis, the famous explorer, will kick off Spirit Lake's centennial year with tales of his courageous exploits. Performer Tim McNeil will portray Lewis, sharing stories and highlights from his trip across the American continent as part of the 1804-1806 Corps of Discovery. McNeil uses letters written to Lewis' mother along the trail to tell the exciting story of the two-year journey, the first American overland expedition to the Pacific Ocean and back.

Although Lewis didn't actually visit the Spirit Lake area, Mayor Roxy Martin says the town is hoping the visit by McNeil portraying Lewis, sponsored in part by grants from the Idaho Humanities Council, "will put a focus on history" and help kick off Spirit Lake's centennial year. She is excited about the events they have planned and hopes "Everybody will come help us celebrate 100 years."

The result is a year full of programs, events and celebrations that will begin with McNeil's performance, and end with a four-day celebration over Labor Day weekend. Kroetch says groups all over town are busy building miniature displays, practicing historic skits, sewing historic outfits, putting together programs and copying historic pictures. "Keith Spencer has been writing articles about our history, students are building town replicas, the Spirit Lake Historical Society is putting together a walking tour and others are scouring the area for musical groups to perform throughout the summer," he said.

The self-guided walking tour will include historic photos and scenes that will be affixed to historic buildings around the downtown core. Information about the buildings and scenes will be included in an accompanying informational pamphlet. Kroetch says members of the historical society will add to the historic mood by dressing in period costumes and strolling city streets throughout the summer.

There are plans to "dress up" the city, according to Kroetch. "We'll festoon the city," he said, "There will be flags and banners all over town." Some Main Street businesses will have window displays that feature miniature displays built by area school children. Others will feature displays inside their stores. There are also plans to clean up a walking path down to the lake, in an effort to tie the logging and mill industries to the development and growth of the town.

One of the events Kroetch is most excited about is an Aug. 30 mountain bike ride that will take bikers "from the top of Mount Spokane to downtown Spirit Lake." He says the ride is "mostly" downhill and is working with riding groups to get area bikers interested in the event.

The group picked Labor Day for the grand finale, "because that's when most of the people return or come back for a visit," said Kroetch. The Labor Day finale, Aug. 28 through Sept. 1, will include a wine-tasting event, a street dance, a fiddle contest, mountain men, steam engines, the mountain bike ride and a grand parade.

Community supporter Becky Gaddum wrote for and received a $2,000 grant from the Idaho Humanities Council that is being used to bring the Lewis program to town and promote the celebration. Sale of a centennial pin will begin next week and sales of centennial shirts, hats and mugs will hit area stores soon. Additional sponsors and advertisers are being sought by the centennial committee.

Meriwether Lewis will share his program with students in Spirit Lake and Athol on Thursday and the public during a 7 p.m. showing at Spirit Lake Elementary School. The show is free and will be followed by an informative question-and-answer session.