By Griffin Realty Group
The Coeur d'Alene Resort has shaped this city's identity for four decades, and its story is really the story of downtown Coeur d'Alene's transformation into a genuine waterfront destination. From a record-setting floating boardwalk to a golf green that moves on underwater cables, the resort's landmarks have become inseparable from the lake itself. Here's a local's overview of the Coeur d'Alene Resort and the downtown waterfront that grew up around it.
Key Takeaways
- The resort traces back to the North Shore Motor Inn, which opened in 1965 before Duane Hagadone transformed it into today's 18-story Lake Tower in 1986.
- Its floating boardwalk stretches 3,300 feet around the marina, a record-setting structure that also gave the public new pedestrian access to the waterfront.
- The resort's golf course features the world's only floating green, a 2,300-ton island installed in 1990 that moves along an underwater cable system.
- The resort sits alongside other downtown waterfront fixtures, including the 165-acre Tubbs Hill and McEuen Park, forming one connected shoreline experience.
From North Shore Motor Inn to Iconic Lake Tower
The resort's story starts well before it became the icon it is today. Its roots trace back to a modest lakeside hotel that Duane Hagadone transformed into something far more ambitious.
How the Resort Took Shape
- The property first opened in 1965 as the North Shore Resort, with a seven-story tower added by 1973
- Hagadone Hospitality acquired the property in June 1983 and closed it on New Year's Day 1986 for a major renovation
- The resort reopened that spring under a new name and identity, with an 18-story Lake Tower addition designed by architect R.G. Nelson
- At 338 guest rooms and suites, the tower remains the tallest building in northern Idaho and the third tallest in the entire state
This transformation didn't just add rooms: it repositioned Coeur d'Alene as a destination rather than simply a stop along the way to somewhere else.
The World-Record Floating Boardwalk
One of the resort's most distinctive features has nothing to do with its rooms or restaurants. A 3,300-foot floating boardwalk wraps around the marina, and it was built with the broader community in mind from the very beginning.
Why This Structure Still Matters
- The boardwalk holds a world record for its length, encircling the resort's private marina along the lake's north shore
- Hagadone Hospitality included the boardwalk as part of its original pitch to the city council, offering genuine public pedestrian access to the waterfront in exchange for approval of the larger development
- The structure lets visitors and locals alike walk right along the water among the docked boats, regardless of whether they're staying at the resort itself
- This kind of public access has helped keep the resort woven into everyday downtown life rather than feeling like a gated, private compound
For many longtime residents, an evening walk along the boardwalk remains one of the simplest, most reliable ways to enjoy the lake.
The World's Only Floating Green
Golf enthusiasts know the Coeur d'Alene Resort for one specific hole, and it's unlike anything found on another course anywhere in the world. The floating green on the 14th hole has become the resort's single most recognizable feature.
What Makes This Green So Unusual
- The idea reportedly came to Hagadone while watching a tugboat tow logs across the lake, sparking the vision for a green that could actually float
- Installed in September 1990 and unveiled alongside Idaho Governor Cecil Andrus, the green weighs 2,300 tons and moves along an underwater cable system to vary the hole's distance
- A boat named "Putter" shuttles golfers out to the green itself, adding a genuinely unusual step to an otherwise ordinary round of golf
- Designed by Phoenix-based architect Scott Miller, the course has been ranked among the best resort courses in the country by both Golf Digest and Golf Magazine
Few golf holes anywhere generate the kind of conversation this one does, and it remains a signature reason golfers travel specifically to play here.
Downtown Waterfront Beyond the Resort
The resort doesn't exist in isolation. It sits alongside several other downtown waterfront landmarks that together give Coeur d'Alene its genuine lakefront identity.
What Rounds Out the Downtown Waterfront
- Tubbs Hill, a 165-acre natural area right next to the resort, offers trails and lake views within walking distance of downtown
- McEuen Park, as well as City Park and Beach, add public green space and beach access along the same stretch of shoreline
- This cluster of attractions means a visitor can move seamlessly from resort amenities to a hiking trail to a public beach, all without needing a car
- The resort's presence helped catalyze investment throughout this entire downtown waterfront corridor, not just within its own property lines
Understanding the resort as part of this larger waterfront ecosystem, rather than a standalone attraction, gives a fuller picture of what makes downtown Coeur d'Alene work as well as it does.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the public walk on the Coeur d'Alene Resort's floating boardwalk without staying at the hotel?
Yes. The boardwalk was built to offer genuine public pedestrian access to the waterfront, open to visitors and locals alike.
How does the floating green on the 14th hole actually move?
It's a 2,300-ton island that travels along an underwater cable system, allowing the hole's distance to vary from round to round.
Is the Coeur d'Alene Resort within walking distance of other downtown attractions?
Yes. It sits right alongside Tubbs Hill, McEuen Park, and City Park and Beach, making the entire downtown waterfront walkable from one spot to the next.
Find Your Place Near Coeur d'Alene's Iconic Waterfront
Sarah Griffin founded Griffin Realty Group with a focus on local waterfront and secondary waterfront properties throughout the Coeur d'Alene area. Her background coordinating some of life's most meaningful and memorable events shows up in how our team approaches every transaction, with the same attention to detail and excellence in service.
Our concierge-level offering is built specifically for clients who value their time and expect a genuinely personalized experience, delivered with professionalism and an action-oriented mindset from start to finish. Those same values have guided our growth from day one. If Coeur d'Alene's iconic waterfront has you dreaming of a home nearby, we would love to help.
Connect with Griffin Realty Group today.
Our concierge-level offering is built specifically for clients who value their time and expect a genuinely personalized experience, delivered with professionalism and an action-oriented mindset from start to finish. Those same values have guided our growth from day one. If Coeur d'Alene's iconic waterfront has you dreaming of a home nearby, we would love to help.
Connect with Griffin Realty Group today.
