People are filtering in to the Coeur d’Alene Resort ballroom where today’s auction of 59 cabin sites at Priest Lake is set to kick off at 1 p.m. Pacific time. Steven Hubbs, 68, who’s here to bid for the ground under the lakefront cabin he’s had for the last 15 years, is among the bidders looking through a thick packet of information on the various cabin sites. Asked what he thinks of the process, Hubbs, who lives in California, said, “It seems fair. I think a lot of the older people that have owned cabins on the lake for a long time, I think they’re at a disadvantage – I don’t think they’re being treated fairly. But for people who bought recently, I think it’s fair.”

I’ve spoken with several other cabin-site lessees who weren’t willing to talk on the record, and are visibly angry over the process. The starting price for the lots, which is set at the appraised value, ranges from $200,000 to $665,000. If someone other than the existing lessee gets the high bid, that person would also have to pay the existing lessee appraised value for the improvements on the land, including the cabin.

The growing crowd here includes some who are here just to watch, including some who also have Priest Lake cabins on state ground but aren't up for auction today.