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Travelers' Rest Timeline

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Artist Interpretation

Artist View of Heritage Center

As L & C saw it

 

 

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Site Concept

Site Concept Meeting Results

The first site concept meeting for the historic Travelers' Rest site in Lolo, Montana, was held on January 26, 2000. At the meeting, participants created a theme and objectives for interpreting the site.

Theme:
The interpretive theme describes our overall learning objective.
People and the land have a delicate and important interrelationship.

Learning Objectives:
Learning objectives describe what stories we want visitors to learn and remember. In this list they are divided into two groups: people stories and land stories.

PEOPLE STORIES

Native Americans

• seasonal movement
• hunting and fishing
• flight of Nez Perce
• day-to-day life

  Lewis and Clark expedition

• camping-activities
• travel

  Post Lewis and Clark period

• fur traders
• homesteaders
• loggers
• bootleggers
• modern bedroom community

LAND STORIES

Geologic stories

• dynamic creek
• glacial lake Missoula, MT

  Land use stories

• logging
• agriculture
• hunting
  
  Transportation stories
• water
• trails
• rail
• road

  Flora and fauna stories

• unique discoveries by Lewis and Clark
• no game in mountains then
• types of foods eaten by expedition members

Physical Objectives:

Physical objectives are what we want visitors to be able to use at the site.
We want to provide visitors with:

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COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS:
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

June 19, 2001

Session Documentation

AGENDA TOPICS

•   Introduction to the session: Agenda review; session objectives; "housekeeping" items

•   Discussion ground rules

•   Participant "warm-up"

•   "Mapping" the situation – Observations about Lolo

  •   Locations

  •   Connections

  •   Impacts (positive and negative)

  •   Questions and answers

•   Building a community framework

  •   Drafting a community vision and guiding principles

  •   Listing important relationships and desired partnerships

  •   Developing criteria for evaluating priorities

  •   Identifying opportunities and challenges (short and long term)

•   Where do we go from here?

SESSION OBJECTIVES

1. Convene a broad cross-section of community stakeholders.

2. Develop a shared understanding of the physical communities affected by the park, their inter-relationships, and the ways they might interact to take advantage of opportunities and mitigate problems.

3. Develop a prioritized list of opportunities and lead "developers".

4. Develop a framework for effective working relationships among partners.

                       

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DISCUSSION GROUND RULES

Participants established the following ground rules to encourage "safe" but productive discussion in the session:

•   Allow the other speaker to finish.

•   Monitor your own communication related to time.

•   Respect all opinions.

•   Stay focused.

•   Allow dreaming.

PARTICIPANT "WARM-UP"

A.    What does Travelers' Rest mean to Lolo?

•   Opportunity, growth and pride.

•   Potential impacts from a large number of visitors.

•   Huge economic and physical impacts; opportunities and prosperity.

•   Maintenance of history as the community’s focal point; recognition of the coming together of cultures.

•   Opportunities and chances to organize around the site.

•   Opportunities for cultural growth as well as economic; potential positive for the tax base.

•   Chance to get re-acquainted with history.

•   Opportunity to resurrect pride; economic growth.

•   Opportunity to recognize history and culture of the area including Tribal culture and history.

•   Opportunity and responsibility to define our uniqueness with historical and local integrity.

•   Opportunity for growth and education.

•   Opportunity to build our own identity separate from Missoula.

•   Increased visitors and national name recognition.

•   Opportunity to define Lolo and share in heritage and economic growth.

•   Opportunity for the community to develop, grow and increase business.

•   Opportunity to take advantage of a historical tourist attraction in the middle of Lolo.

•   Opportunity depends on how we handle it.

•   Define an interesting component of "what Lolo is…"as a crossroads in many ways; opportunity to establish a legacy for the community.

•   Opportunity for shared community vision and partnership; opportunity for community building.

•   Opportunity to focus on a single community effort involving locals, Tribal interests, state and national interests; link to other L/C sites.
  
  

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B.    "I'm most worried about:"

•   Degradation of the site from too many visitors.

•   Increased local property taxes.

•   Dissention and being overrun by “naysayers”.

•   Loss of a precious community asset because of lack of community support.

•   Loss of potential partnerships.

•   The plan not getting to implementation.

•   Making sure there is a long term commitment to manage the site from the non-profit group.

•   Community division and non-sustainable growth.

•   Unsightly development around the site cheapening its value.

•   Groups undermining others.

•   Uncontrolled development.

•   Losing our community uniqueness.

•   Power struggles.

•   What will happen beyond the short term.

•   The timeliness of development.

•   Finding funding to make a lasting landmark and maintenance including the Lolo Trail.

•   The site being overrun.

•   Bridging community gaps in Lolo.

•   Dispelling negatives, confusion among key players.

•   Impacts on property values and taxes.

•   What decisions need to be made and who will make them.

•   Lolo being done to, not with.

•   Environmental and social impacts to the area and losing community control.

•   Missed opportunities because we are so overwhelmed.

•   Local divisiveness and missed partnerships.

•   Division and lack of shared vision.

•   Failure to recognize potential community opportunities including community building.
  
  

C.    What are the most important questions that need to be answered?  (list does not indicate priority or ranking)

•   What do people want Lolo to be?

•   What visitor projects do we want and who will maintain them in the long term?

•   Will Lolo find a way to minimize differences and maximize opportunities?

•   Will Lolo meet the challenge?

•   How do we get quality and the money to pay for it?

•   How will Lolo take advantage of the site and expanded stories?

•   What does Lolo want and how can that be sustained?
  
  

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•   Is it possible to have shared community vision?

•   What kind of site development and community does Lolo want?

•   How can the site be used to grow and at the same time, protect?

•   How do we take advantage of the site so we maintain our uniqueness as a community?

•   How do we take advantage of the site so we grow economically?

•   How do we implement a process that moves us ahead?

•   How can Lolo move to vision and then to the details?

•   What does the community want Travelers’ Rest to be – now and later?

•   Are people and resources prepared and willing to work together for mutually beneficial purposes?

•   How can the public process be improved so more people get involved?

•   How do we take advantage of the site and use it to make us a stronger community?

•   "Who's on first" and are they credible?

•   Can people work together?

•   How can we not re-create the wheel?  Where will "leadership" come from?

•   What is the vision and what should be our actions?

•   How can the community agree to work together in an inclusive process toward something of significance?

OBSERVATIONS ABOUT LOLO

1. As a community, "history" links us in many ways.

2. We have 2 national historical landmarks in the immediate vicinity.

3. "Watchable wildlife" is abundant.

4. The area has many all-season, recreational opportunities.

5. Lolo is in the “heart” of fly-fishing country.

6. Lolo is an important crossroads and a transportation hub.

7. Lodging in Lolo is inadequate; Missoula out-competes local lodging because they have a glut.

8. The community lacks public “rest” and restroom facilities.

9. Generally, Lolo has no parking or “dumping” facility for RV’s; the single area by the square dance hall has no day rental and limited space.

10. Lolo has the dominant historical site in 2 valleys.

11. Lolo has the dominant scenic feature with Lolo Peak.

12. Local infrastructure offers some potential (e.g., Community Center and Lolo School overflow parking, etc.).

13. There is an opportunity for Scenic Byway designation on local highways.

14. There is an opportunity for Green Way designation along Lolo Creek.

15. Lolo is not a “real walkable” community.
    

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16. Lolo lacks a central shopping or “main street”.

17. Lolo lacks an appealing “public face”.

18. Currently, there seems to be a number of empty businesses (e.g., restaurants; “mall” spaces; the golf course).

19. The highway “is” and it is the first impression for visitors; it is the first level of “main street” for Lolo.

20. Lolo has disparate parts and that is reinforced by the division caused by the highway.

21. Currently, history and Eco-tourism is not tied to the community.

22. Local infrastructure is not sufficient to accommodate increased numbers of visitors.

23. Local lack knowledge about the area, its historical significance and site, and pre-historic and historic Tribal culture.

BUILDING A COMMUNITY FRAMEWORK

A.     Drafting a Community Vision and Guiding Principles

Vision

Lolo wishes to develop and support the historical and cultural values – past to present – of the area, and particularly at this time, those associated with the Lewis and Clark journey and the Travelers’ Rest site.   As a community, we encourage pride and appreciation of pre-historic and historical events and their relationship to Lolo, while capitalizing on environmental, recreational, and cultural opportunities for local residents and visitors.  We accomplish our vision through continuing educational efforts, community display and action, and dialogue with our partners and among ourselves.

Guiding Principles

•   We respect Native American and Pioneer cultures and histories through accurate interpretation and education.

•   We value aesthetic continuity and we commit to authenticity in Lolo’s historical presentations and experiences for local residents and visitors.

•   We recognize the importance of a shared vision and maintaining and enhancing experiences for local residents as a community building focus.

•   We appreciate and respect the total area related to the Travelers’ Rest site including privately owned, surrounding property.  We encourage the involvement of private property owners while honoring their right to privacy.

•   We believe that Lolo has the opportunity to become a destination community for visitors while maintaining the Community’s identity and uniqueness and without costly impacts to local residents. 

•   We believe that community development should be sustainable in the long term.

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B.     Listing Important Partnerships/Relationships (critical partners*)

1. Site management

   •   TRPHA*

   •   LCC*

   •    FWP*

   •   T.R. Chapter

   •   Adjacent landowners

   •   Tribes*

   •   SHPO (State and County)

   •   HUD

   •   US Forest Service

   •   NTHP*
     
     

2. Funding

   •   TRPHA

   •   LCC

   •   FWP

   •   Businesses

   •   T.R. Chapter

   •   UM

   •   EPA

   •   Tribes

   •   BCC/OPG

   •   SHPO

   •   HUD

   •   US Forest Service

   •   National Park Service

   •   Conservation Fund

   •   Lewis and Clark groups

   •   Tourism groups

   •   Department of Defense

   •   NTHP*

   •   EDA – State Department of Commerce

   •   Private sector
     
     

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3. Education and outreach

   •   TRPHA                                

   •   LCC

   •   FWP

   •   T.R. Chapter

   •   Schools

   •   UM

   •   Tribes

   •   The community

   •   Tourism groups

   •   Chamber of Commerce

   •   Businesses

   •   Media

   •   Lewis and Clark groups

   •   LCC

   •   FWP

   •   T.R. Chapter

   •   Schools

   •   UM
     
     

4. Economic development

   •   TRPHA

   •   LCC

   •   FWP

   •   Businesses*

   •   Adjacent landowners*

   •   UM*

   •   MDOT

   •   BCC/OPG/Sheriff/Roads*

   •   NTHP

   •   HUD

   •   EDA

   •   Tourism groups

   •   Chamber of Commerce*

   •   The community*

   •   Parks community highway focus

   •   RSID 901

   •   State Department of Commerce

   •   Tribes
     
     

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5. Health and safety

   •   TRPHA

   •   LCC

   •   FWP

   •   Highway focus

   •   Businesses

   •   UM

   •   EPA

   •   DEQ

   •   MDOT

   •   BCC/Sheriff/health/roads/fire

   •   NTHP*

   •   RSID 901

   •   Hospital and medical

   •   Tribes
     
     

6. Stewardship

   •   TRPHA

   •   LCC

   •   FWP

   •   Businesses

   •   Adjacent landowners

   •   Tribes

   •   The community (civic groups, owners/renters, churches, etc.) and volunteers

   •   NTHP*

C.   Developing Criteria for Determining Priorities

•   Do we have or can we acquire the resources to do it?

•   Can we afford not to do it?

•   What is the immediacy of it?

•   Can it be sustained in the long term?  Does that matter?

•   Who are the people that have some stake in it and will they “buy-in”?

•   Can impacts to the community be mitigated?

•   Can environmental impacts be mitigated?

•   Will it contribute to inclusivity and invite broad public participation?

•   Will there be community “buy-in”? 

•   Will there be “buy-in” among important partners?

•   How will it appear to those from outside the community?  Does it matter?

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D.    Identifying Priority “Opportunities”/Challenges for the Community

1.  Short term

   •   Collaborate on research at the site. Develop and install interpretative community signage.

   •   Develop and maintain critical partnerships and important working relationships.

   •   Use Forest Service established programs and connect them to the community.

   •   Continue use of the Travelers’ Rest Traveling Trunk and “celestial” programs.

   •   Develop and implement a mini infrastructure “capital investment program”.  Evaluate flood potential at the site.

   •   Conduct a "Heritage Tourism" assessment.

   •   Develop a "Main Street" plan including connections, pathways and parking that help the community take advantage of the site and its visitors; identify and implement community-wide strategies that attract tourists, particularly the heritage/eco tourist.

   •   Create a "business association" AKA downtown association and create a sense of ownership in the "Main Street"/community plan.
     
     

2. Longer term

   •   Establish a "cornerstone for education" in the Lolo community.

   •   Complete trail restoration and implement weed control strategies.

   •   Complete interpretation of the site/area/region with the active Tribal involvement and develop a program for use of guides.

   •   Develop a long-term funding strategy related to community efforts.

   •   Continue implementation of the “Main Street” plan and emphasize connections and pathways through the community.

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WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

Utilize the Lolo Community Council as the leadership/facilitating/coordinating body for this effort.  If necessary, work with the County Commissioners to formalize and support the leadership role for the Council.  The Council would accomplish the following actions by Fall, 2001:

1. Create and empower a broad-based community group who would work with the Council to help:

    

   a.       Identify and market a community theme;

   b.      Facilitate public involvement strategies to build local support and “buy-in”;

   c.       Develop and begin to implement a general community action plan around the theme including specific action strategies, funding mechanisms, responsible parties and a timeline;

   d.      Identify individual entities/people from the community group who would be responsible for developing and maintaining specific partnerships and working relationships, particularly in the area of funding.

2. Facilitate creation of a Lolo “business association” and work to develop their “buy-in for the general community action plan.

3. Working with the business association, the broad-based community group, and the County, begin work on a 5 year “Main Street” plan with the goal of implementing the first phase by late Spring, 2002. 

4. Working with a local economic development group (i.e., MAEDC) and the County, explore the potential role, definition, and benefits of a formal “economic development” plan for Lolo.

5. Work with the Travelers’ Rest non-profit Board of Directors to identify and implement specific opportunities for connecting the community to site development and on-going site management.

6. Review progress in the Fall and plan for the next steps.