island lake lodge is a privately owned land holding. as such they have a right to restrict the usage of their land as they see fit. in the last few years they have eliminated timber harvesting, cattle grazing and much of the non-guest motorized use on the property. this allowed the land to recover from a generation of over abuse. for instance, five years ago thistles (a invasive non-native plant) occurred throughout the valley because of the over grazing. now they are virtually non-existent.
the Lodge is off the grid on their own hydro plant. they support local businesses rather than the biggies–Cindy at Cincot Farms in a great example–and they are one of the lead employers in the valley paying a starting wage that is several dollars over the minimum (the minimum being the starting standard for most businesses here).
this last summer the disregard of common decency by locals and the trash left by locals on the Lodge property was out of hand. people would come up with their own bbq, set up a full-on camp on the lake, spend the day getting trashed and then leave with the bbq. their garbage they left sitting on the lake shore for the lodge staff to dispose.
when the locals start treating the land at ILL with respect and care, the situation will change. until that time, access will be likely be more controlled by the Lodge. in fact, it would not surprise me to to see motorized traffic be restricted guests of the lodge only. a summer policy similar to the winter policy.
and it would serve the locals right.
for the record, i’m a local. i don’t work for the lodge. i use the trails and IIL lands frequently in the summer. i don’t want to see it happen, but i know the hassles they had this summer. the land is open, preserved because of the value their paying guests place on the land and taking care of it. when locals come up and make it uncomfortable for the paying guests, something has to give.
and it’s the freeloaders. you toss the bums.
