Chamber petitions to move Farragut State Park gate

The Bayview Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution at its last meeting petitioning Farragut State Park to relocate the gate barring access to MacDonald Point, just a few hundred feet from the end of Hudson Bay Road.

The road currently ends, or rather is gated off, just east of the entrance to Vista Bay Marina. Chamber president Jim MacDonald is especially interested because of a monument that was erected in 1963 to Alvin MacDonald, who was active in the area at the end of World War II after the Navy moved out.

Affixed to the stone monument was a bronze plaque honoring the original owner of MacDonald’s Hudson Bay Resort, just down the road. The citizens of Bayview sponsored the plaque with permission from Idaho Fish and Game.

The plaque was stolen about 1965 and was missing for many years. Another was affixed to the monument, only to be stolen also. About five years ago, after purchasing a house in Coeur d’Alene, some thoughtful people, upon discovering the original plaque, gave it to a friend who drove up to MacDonald’s Resort asking if they knew of the plaque.

It was returned to a grateful Jim MacDonald, who now wants the park to open access to the viewpoint so that the bronze commemorative can be accessed by all without having to enter through the park or pay a fee. The petition requests that the gate be moved to the other side of the viewpoint, which offers a spectacular view of the lake, Lakeview and Idlewilde Bay.

“One complication is that the only large vehicle turn-around is located at the viewpoint,” said Randall Butt, park manager. “With narrow roads lacing the park, turn-around circles are necessary so that motor homes and vehicles with trailers won’t get stuck with no way to backtrack.”

Another complication is that while Chip Corsi, Idaho Fish and Game regional supervisor, identified this point as being owned by Fish & Game, Butt wasn’t so sure. He thought a survey would be necessary but conceded that if both the Parks Department and Fish & Game were in agreement, that problem could go away. In any event, because the Parks Department administers Fish-and-Game-owned land, any decisions made would be a cooperative one.

In the petition, MacDonald proposed that park officials, Lakes Highway District and chamber representatives meet to discuss ways to protect the park, provide access to the viewpoint and enhance visitors’ experiences.

“We recognize there are obstacles to this idea, but we believe these can be overcome by joining forces,” MacDonald wrote.