Sandpoint deserves an iconic luxury getaway that respects — and lives up to — the beauty of Lake Pend Oreille and the surrounding community. The boutique Sandpoint Lakeside Resort rises to the occasion, providing experiences to guests that complement the amenities Sandpoint and its businesses already offer, all while respecting and preserving the beach experience residents have known their whole lives.
What is the vision for Sandpoint Lakeside Resort?
From the project’s conception the vision was to add a generational icon to the community that would improve Sandpoint for both locals and guests. The boutique resort’s promises to the community:
- To preserve the traditional lakeside atmosphere while enhancing the beach going experience.
- To drive economic activity beyond the summer to provide local businesses additional revenue in fall, spring and winter.
- To create an iconic location that feels both new and like it has always been a part of Sandpoint.
Will Sandpoint residents benefit from the resort?
Yes. There will be more amenities and a better experience when recreating at the lake. Best of all, the resort includes meeting space for everything from 300-person banquets to board meetings to small-meeting needs that can serve local businesses and drive revenue from visitors outside of peak tourist seasons.
What will the resort offer?
The hotel plans for 99 hotel rooms and 31 independently owned resort rooms. It will have lakeside dining and beverage options. Beach-facing service will include a place for food and drinks as well as equipment rentals.
How will the resort contribute to the beach experience?
The goal is to preserve the traditional experience residents have always enjoyed at City Beach while adding some new amenities and improvements for everyone to enjoy. Adding rentals, food options and beverage services will be convenient for some. Everyone will be able to enjoy the work that will be done in collaboration with the city of Sandpoint on the beach itself, including:
- Dredging the shoreline to make it more accessible for swimmers and people using non-motorized watercraft
- Expanding the beach at the northwest corner for a larger footprint
- Cleaning the beach to get rid of debris, weeds, trash and even bird droppings
What will be available to hotel guests?
The boutique resort offers its guests access to northern Idaho’s beauty, blending the values of the community with luxury accommodations and first-class service.
Who will the resort be bringing to Sandpoint?
The boutique hotel will be available to both travelers to Sandpoint and locals interested in a luxury weekend. A priority is to attract businesses around the region to stay and rent space during the fall, winter and spring months for events and meetings. The resort is modeled to bring in fewer guests than other resort destinations while providing a better experience.
Is the resort kid-friendly?
Absolutely. There will be amenities for kids both in the hotel and, of course, there will be unforgettable experiences on the beach where they can rent recreational equipment, swim, sunbathe and enjoy nature.
Why is parking at City Beach going from free to paid?
The city of Sandpoint independently planned to charge fees for spaces in the City Beach parking lot (on-street parking is to remain free) to fund parking improvements within the city. It is a public policy that does not, and has not, involved the Sandpoint Lakeside Resort.
Do you have a position on the parking fees?
The team behind the Sandpoint Lakeside Resort does not have a position on the fees. Their adoption — or rejection — does not change anything about the resort’s plans and there are valid arguments on both sides of the debate.
Does Sandpoint Lakeside Resort benefit from the new parking fees?
No. None of the funds or available parking go to the resort or its facilities. Decisions on improvements to public property would be determined by Sandpoint’s elected leaders.
How many parking spots are you offering?
The resort will have parking for up to 145 cars on its property. Parking will be part of a complimentary valet service for resort customers — including those dining or shopping. The valet system allows the resort to maximize its space in a parking garage in every situation, essentially doing more with less. The resort is also paying into the city of Sandpoint’s parking improvement fund so that additional parking improvements can be made wherever it is best for residents. In the case of extraordinary circumstances, the resort is arranging for additional parking. The overflow parking will be in parking lots in downtown. Resort shuttles will be used to transport guests from the offsite parking lots to the hotel. None of the overflow parking will be at City Beach or on taxpayer funded lots. Additional services, such as Spokane airport shuttles, will encourage some guests to travel without cars.
What about guests who have trailers, campers or other vehicles larger than a typical car or truck?
The resort will not be able to accommodate parking for those vehicles on site. However, the resort’s service team will work with guests to arrange an appropriate spot to park their vehicles during their stay.
Will Sandpoint Lakeside Resort guests or employees use City Beach parking?
No. The current parking footprint will provide enough space for them. If there are extraordinary circumstances where parking needs potentially cannot be met over a short period of time, employees and any other overflow will park in pre-determined lots in downtown Sandpoint. Shuttles will take people from the lots to the resort.
Will there be any parking spaces at City Beach for the hotel?
No, there are no parking spaces for the hotel at City Beach.
How can you keep guests from using City Beach parking?
Resort guests receive complimentary valet parking at the resort. At City Beach they would have to pay additional city fees and would not be able to park overnight. It would be burdensome for guests to park at City Beach and pay when they can park at the hotel for no cost.
Is the resort offering any incentives to travel without a car?
The resort will run shuttle services to and from Spokane Airport. The shuttle will transport guests to key points of interest in the greater Sandpoint area. Additionally, we would like to work with the SPOT bus to develop a drop-off and pick up location at City Beach to improve access to mass transit and reduce parking strain.
What about Sandpoint residents, will they benefit from Lakeside Resort’s new parking structure?
They will. Residents who decide to dine at the resort or use the wellness facilities there will have access to complimentary valet parking with proof of purchase.
Has the project changed since it was approved by the city of Sandpoint?
Yes, the project has downsized to fewer rooms, which has changed other aspects of the design. Fundamentally, it remains the same project, however, with the same amount of meeting and event space available to the community as was shown when the project received approval.
How will the independently owned resort rooms function?
The 31 independently owned resort rooms will be operated by the resort and rented out to guests just like the 99 traditional rooms will be. The owners of those rooms will have a pool of days to reserve the room for personal use. During that stay they will be treated as guests with the same resort experience as everyone else. None of the rooms are designed to function as a full or part-time residence.
Will the independent owners get special parking privileges?
No. They will have the same access as other guests when staying at the hotel. When they are not staying, dining or shopping at the hotel, they will not be entitled to on-site parking.