A large portion of the iconic Henrys Lake Flats in Island Park is at risk of being developed into a three-story hotel and a private residential airpark. Commercial and high-density development will profoundly diminish, obscure, and forever destroy the iconic beauty of vast open-space meadowland.
Open spaces and natural habitats are vital to the cherished wildlife of Island Park—including federally protected grizzly bears that are present on the Flats, native and resident pronghorn whose calves are born in spring, elk, and multiple officially identified “species of greatest conservation need” whose habitat includes the Flats.
Private Luxury Airpark
The proposed airpark will be developed on a 432-acre parcel on the east side of U.S. 20, about 0.7 miles north of Big Springs Loop Rd. Douglas Button of Imperial Investments LLC is heading the project. According to the proposal application, 133 acres of the 432-acre parcel will be rezoned for commercial/industrial use. What is intended for the 133 acres of commercial/industrial rezone is unknown.
The airpark would consist of approximately 32 residential lots encompassing a central airstrip. Many of the lots would front the taxiway, allowing for private airplane storage on each lot.
As of August 24th, the Fremont County P&Z Commission denied Imperial Investments LLC’s comprehensive plan amendment and rezone request. We will continue to monitor future proposals on the Henrys Lake Flats, but the commission’s decision was a monumental win for wildlife!
Three-Story Flat-Rock Hotel
The application submitted by Ensign Hospitality, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, reveals that the project will consist of a 132-room Marriott hotel, ten residences, employee housing, and possibly a 70-stall RV park. The hotel will be officially known as the “Flat Rock Hotel” and will have over 5,000 square feet of meeting space, a full-service restaurant, a bar, and a spa.
Ensign Hospitality submitted this image of the proposed land diagram showing the hotel, homes, and RV park’s location on the 90-acre parcel. Sixty acres of the parcel is in Fremont County, and the other thirty are in the City of Island Park.
As of November 9th, 2024, the Fremont County Planning and Zoning Commission denied Ensign Hospitality’s class two permit application. In a 5-1 vote, the P&Z Commission stated that the application was improper for what the developer was asking for and instead called their request a “large-scale development.” The commission also determined that this development was indeed a “Hotel,” which is not allowed within the rural base zoning.
Airpark Hearing Recap
Click the button below to read HFWA’s official press release about the outcome of the August 24th public hearing.
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