The Missoulian from Missoula, Montana • 33

Montana territory Page A-l Missoulian, Sunday, September 11, 1983 Is a The centerpiece at Kootenai Lodge ballroom-sized lounge that today looks virtually as It did years ago when wealthy people came to the lake to rough it. A Waldorf in the wilderness A playground of the Copper Kings on Swan Lake is coming back to elegant life into membership, if you are the wrong kind of individual," he said. "Respect is probably the key word respect for traditional values, for other people and property. "I guess the bottom line is you have to love the place like I do," he said. Although the estate grew through the years into a veritable wilderness Waldorf, it was not always so grand.

Cornelius Francis Kelley and Lewis Orvis Evans, the copper magnates who purchased the property early in the century, always referred to it as "fishing camp," according to historians. Evans first saw the property while on a fishing trip in 1906. A short time later, Evans and Kelley bought the first acreage. "Originally the two families lived in log cabins and shared a single log building for cooking and dining," according to an article in a 1981 Montana Magazine by free-lance writer Betty Wetzel of Bigfork. Both men married in 1903, Kelley to Mary Tremblay, daughter of a Missoula physician, and Evans to Martha Nichols, daughter of a Butte judge.

Both men rapidly ascended in their careers. In 1912, Evans became chief counsel for the Anaconda Copper Mining a position he held for many years. He was also chief counsel for Montana Power Co. and its subsidiary companies. Kelly climbed the corporate ladder to become president of Anaconda Copper Mining.

(Turn to WALDORF, page A-2) mason finished them yesterday. Each fireplace also has its own sculptured screen of copper, depicting birds in flight, wildflowers or animals. Many original household furnishings, antiques, draperies and linens were still in perfect condition, even after a quarter of a century. Linen draperies, bright with floral patterns, and fine imported carpets made of flax, have been returned to their formal lustre after cleaning. When the club officially opened for membership July 1, lawns were lush and green, flower beds bloomed in profusion, fine linen, crystal and silver graced the elegant dining room and a few of the luxurious living quarters were ready to receive guests.

Already the club has 51 members, Thompkins said. He anticipates that 10 years from now the Kootenai Lodge Club will have 1,600 members. "Resident members" live or own a residences within 50 miles of the club, and "non-resident members" are individuals who reside outside the 50-mile perimeter. All members, upon payment of fees, will have use of the full facilities of the club. At present, the one-time membership fee for residents is $3,000 for a husband, wife and all children under the age of 21.

The membership can be passed down the generations. Non-resident fees begin at $6,000, which includes two weeks a year accommodations. Thompkins said non-residents fees vary "depending on the degree of use" anticipated Although some have surmised that such a private club is only for the wealthy. Thompkins denies the rumor. "No amount of money can buy your way dusk, he thought of the possibilities of awakening and restoring this beauty into the late 20th century Then, "One evening, driving home from work the idea of how it could be done flashed into my mind," he said.

"I got so excited, I parked the car off U.S. 93 to think about it." Thompkins got others interested in his concept of a private club, and decided to "bid on the property, just as though it was another building job." The bid was made. Anxious weeks of silence followed. Then he was notified that the property had been sold to Canadians. Undaunted, he contacted the Canadians and offered to work for them in the restoration of the place.

He was hired. When the Canadian economy took a nose dive, Thompkins was told that if he wanted the property he'd have to come up with the money within a few days as a half-dozen other offers had been made. He managed to find investment partners and his dream of "restoring a unique piece of Montana heritage" began. Others in the partnership that is now reviving the estate are his wife, Cindy; Jerry and Carol Thompkins of Big Fork; Lee H. and Sally Hern-Vaughn of Big Fork; David and Darlene Duncan of Great Falls; and Ed Matteucci, also of Great Falls.

The gigantic refurbishing project started 16 months ago. Thousands of square yards of sod have been brought in, and the grounds are being returned to the original, verdant parklike appearance. Buildings are being carefully restored. Magnificent stone fireplaces, after cleaning, appear as if the Written by EVELYN KING photographed by PAUL CARTER of theMissoullan Golden sunlight of late afternoon shimmered on the silken lake. Gentle ripple's caressed the quiet shore.

A light summer breeze sighed through the fir and the aspen. Nestled in the trees as though it had grown from the earth, the majestic mountain lodge of logs and stone drowsed undisturbed, a tranquil forest retreat which had once been a vibrant summer resort in the early part of the century. It was as though everyone had mysteriously disappeared, leaving towels on the rack, cards on the table, logs growing cold in the fireplace. Thus the Kootenai Lodge "camp" on Swan Lake once playground of the Copper Kings and their wealthy friends had slumbered for more than 25 years. Now the Sleeping Beauty is stirring.

New owners are turning the estate into an exclusive resort known as the Kootenai Lodge Club and they hope to bring back some of its former grandeur. The project began with a nostalgic carpenter and philosopher who was saddened to see the slow decline of the lodge, guest "cottages" and other buildings. Season by season, the weather silently waged its aging wiles, and weeds and brush began to choke the once parklike grounds. For years, the man S. Dennis Thompkins of Bigfork walked the shore and dreamed in the A rustic arbor frames the lodge.

Below, an ironwork design from the lodge's original lawn furniture recalls a genteel past. Dennis Thompkins wants the lodge to attract members who respect Its traditions..