As we welcome a new year, we find ourselves reflecting on what we hope for at Priest Lake.
Among our wishes for the year ahead is something simple and timeless: that this place continues to feel like the refuge we all know and love. A lake where people can slow down, reconnect, and truly be present with nature, with family, and with one another.
We hope for a Priest Lake that stays pristine, where respect for the land, the water, and the environment guides our choices. A lake where development follows thoughtful rules, if not to stop growth, yes to ensure balance.
We hope for quieter days and calmer nights, mindful speeds on the water and roads, less noise echoing across the lake, and darker skies where the stars can shine without competition from lights. Those black, peaceful nights are part of what makes Priest Lake so special.
We also hope for a growing community who come together in unity when it matters most. Join us!
May this new year bring gratitude, care, and gentle responsibility for this incredible place we’re lucky to experience.
Together, let’s preserve Priest Lake.
Follow us on Facebook and visit our website PreservePriestLake.com
January 24 & 25, 2026 CANCELED
February 14 & 15, 2026 — West Coast Vintage Ice Oval Championship CANCELED
INFO with Mike Courteau — 509-599-5539 Mark Courteau — 509-954-4769
View location HERE
Update - Fall 2025
Restoration work continued on the 106 year old Bismark Ranger Station Barn in Nordman, Idaho. This project is in coordination with the Priest Lake Museum, the Priest Lake Forest Service Ranger District and is supported by grants from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Idaho Heritage Trust.
Highlights of this year’s restoration include:
Participated in the Priest Lake Spring Festival Parade in Coolin. Members of the Priest Lake Museum Board of Directors led members of the Priest River Valley Backcountry Horsemen Chapter, who were riding horses leading pack mules. The entry, supporting the Bismark Barn restoration project, won the “Most Unique Float” award.
Held our third annual Bismark Ranger Station Tour in July.
3) Received continued consultation from Carmelita Angeles, Archaeologist with the Forest Service, Shannon Sardell, Historical Architect, the Idaho Heritage Trust and the State Historical Preservation Office.
4) Barn featured in the Priest Lake Chamber of Commerce Visitor Guide, on the National Trust Website and in the spring newsletter of the Priest Lake Museum.
5) Logo developed by Feline Graphics of Priest River.
6) Worked at the Barn every Wednesday morning this summer to remove the fallen roof and hayloft debris from the barn floor. All salvageable pieces were tagged and stored, which included flooring, roof shingles, beams, posts, saddle racks, farrier’s tables, stall boards, trough, hayloft ladder, pieces of window glass, screens and nails. The cistern was previously removed and is protected from the weather at the barn site.
7) Photographed, measured and tagged the four log sides of the 28’ X 32’ barn for reference.
Future Plans:
The restoration team will propose a restoration plan for 2026 to the Forest Service which includes the replacement of any deteriorated logs, shoring up the posts that support the hayloft and roof structure, re-building the hayloft and roof framework, placement of a new roof, new flooring and ultimately the re-installation of all of the surviving artifacts. Our hope is to open the restored barn to the public as another recreational opportunity for the community and the many visitors to Priest Lake.
For further information on the Bismark Barn Restoration project, to learn about opportunities to volunteer or to make a donation to the project, please contact Priest Lake Museum Board Member, Kristen Winn (kristenwinn@comcast.net).
