Welcome to Territory 1889 Golf & Lake Club

Territory 1889 is a private mountain and summer destination by Discovery Land Company located in northwest Montana near Flathead Lake. The development spans 1,800 acres and will include approximately 359 lots and offer a variety of amenities and services, including golf and a comprehensive wellness program.

We’ve proposed a 50-foot buffer zone between the edge of the golf course and the intermittent stream area. In addition, a 100-foot vegetative buffer zone will be maintained around the wetland areas to further reduce runoff and protect sensitive ecosystems. There is also a 130-foot building setback to all delineated wetlands which aligns with the recommendations from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP). We will also implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) to ensure minimal impact. Some of these BMPs include nutrient management planning, fertilizer application techniques, and turfgrass/landscape management.

Territory 1889 will primarily host seasonal residences (3-4 months per year), resulting in minimal daily commuter traffic. All internal roads on the property will be owned, managed, and maintained by the community HOA and not impact county roads. Additionally, due to amenities being offered onsite, residents are naturally encouraged to stay on the property, which limits further external traffic.

Discussions are ongoing with the Montana Department of Traffic (MDT) to warrant a right hand turn lane from Highway 93 into the development, highlighting the positive improvement this will make on the community. Although the preference is to have a right hand turn lane, ultimately MDT must warrant the improvement via their analysis of the traffic impact study.

The development will fund an on-site fire and EMT substation to respond to emergencies within the community and support surrounding areas as needed. The substation will work with the Lakeside Somers Fire District to address emergency situations. Additional fire protections include over 150 fire hydrants throughout the property, over 1 million gallons of above ground water storage, surface water ponds, and active forestry management practices to reduce fire fuels.

Of the property’s 1,800 acres, only 230 acres are slated for development—over 80% of the property will remain open space. The proposed plan aligns with the Lakeside Neighborhood Plan and reduces the density from the approved 2007 plat by 50%.

The project has a service agreement with the Lakeside County Water and Sewer District, including Will-Serve letters for 150 EDUs (Equivalent Dwelling Units). An additional 250 EDUs are contingent upon the installation of new gravity mains, force mains, and lift stations. These improvements will be fully funded by the developer which benefit the community through regional wastewater improvements at no cost to the public.

In 2024, the adjacent Eagle’s Crest community underwent a vote to decide whether or not to remove the existing runway which exists partially on the Eagle’s Crest Subdivision, and partially on Territory 1889’s property. The supermajority of the Eagle’s Crest HOA voted in favor of removing the runway. However, a small group of Eagle’s Crest residents have since filed a lawsuit against the HOA in an attempt to retain the runway. In response, Territory 1889 has relocated all proposed lots away from the runway area pending the outcome of the litigation.

In compliance with Flathead County Subdivision Regulations, Territory 1889 has been carefully designed to minimize impacts on the local wildlife and habitat. Over 80% of the site—approximately 864 acres—will be preserved as open space, protecting natural terrain, vegetation, and wildlife corridors. Each homesite includes a defined building envelope to ensure that the remaining portion of the lot remains in its natural state. The development’s design guidelines also prohibit fences or barriers between lots, enabling unimpeded movement of wildlife throughout the property.

Territory 1889 has acquired a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan Permit (SWPPP) from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) for infrastructure construction activities in order to preserve the water quality. The development will also be reviewed for short and long-term stormwater control measures by the Subdivision Section of MDEQ. All on-site wells have been tested for water quality, and the implementation of vegetative buffers and setbacks in wetland areas will further protect water resources from irrigation impacts.

Territory 1889 is in the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) Water Rights approval process. As part of our due diligence, on-site test wells have been drilled and evaluated for both aquifer capacity and water quality. DNRC’s technical review confirmed the aquifer’s physical and legal capacity is sufficient to support the proposed development.