Arts venue proposed on Whiskey Jack

KOOTENAI — The folk group Shook Twins are seeking permit approval to establish an amphitheater and outdoor event venue overlooking Boyer Slough.

The Bonner County Planning & Zoning Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on a conditional use permit for a private community facility on Thursday, March 4. The hearing is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m.

The Whiskey Jack Arts Venue would be located at 845 Whiskey Jack Road. The facility would have a capacity of 500 people and would be used for concerts, weddings, receptions, retreats, campouts and catered events, according to the permit application.

The venue would be owned and operated by Katelyn and Laurie Shook, twin sisters who have opened for or performed with Ani DiFranco, Indigo Girls, the Head and the Heart and a host of other artists.

Boyer Slough would serve as the stage's backdrop, a site plan indicates. It would host up to two events per month between June and September.

"We propose to offer up this wonderful artistic property as an outdoor, seasonally rentable community gathering space intended to enrich the public in arts and culture," the musicians said in a one-page narrative.

The venue would have a half-acre lawn for large events, which would be ringed by trees and art studios. Stage performances would be mostly acoustic and speakers would be pointed away from residences when possible.

The twins acknowledged there would be glare of lighting setups, amplified music, bonfire smoke, large gatherings of people and bass frequency vibrations.

"We intend to maintain a good line of communication and mutual respect with adjoining landowners," the pair said in the narrative.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and followed on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.