Post Falls projects 71,000 residents, 3,000 visitor capacity by 2035
CAROLYN BOSTICK | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 54 minutes AGO
Carolyn Bostick has worked for the Coeur d’Alene Press since June 2023. She covers Shoshone County and Coeur d'Alene. Carolyn previously worked in Utica, New York at the Observer-Dispatch for almost seven years before briefly working at The Inquirer and Mirror in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Since she moved to the Pacific Northwest from upstate New York in 2021, she's performed with the Spokane Shakespeare Society for three summers. | November 15, 2024 1:00 AM
Post Falls examined its growth patterns through population figures and visitor accommodation data recently.
City officials estimate the current population at 47,000 residents as of early 2024. While the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization had projected a population of 53,406 by 2025, growth has slowed, according to Community Development Director Bob Seale, noting that the KMPO's 2035 projection of 71,635 residents still appears achievable based on growth patterns.
Overnight accommodations for visitors and tourists are also expected to increase.
"We can reasonably anticipate a couple [of hotels] coming in over the next 10 years," Seale said.
The city currently has 929 lodging units, according to August 2024 data. Among the major properties, Red Lion Hotel Templin's on the River offers 163 units, while SureStay Plus by Best Western Post Falls has 99 units.
The city's RV accommodations are substantial, with Coeur d'Alene RV Resort offering 189 spaces, Post Falls RV Campground providing 128 spaces, and Suntree RV Park adding another 126 spaces.
Future development plans include the Hyatt Place at Millworx, scheduled to open in December 2025 with 150 units. The city expects to add approximately 450 overnight units in the next decade, bringing the total to 1,379. By 2035, overnight visitor capacity is projected to reach 2,954.
