The Idaho Department of Lands has been managing more than 2.5 million acres of land that supports state institutions, primarily the state’s public school system. Since approximately 1935 some of this land has been leased for cottage sites. In 2010 there were 354 state-leased cottage sites. That year the Land Board, which provides direction to the department, approved a plan to auction their cottage sites. The first auction was in 2014 and since then cottage site ownership has been a mix of leased sites and fee simple sites. Initially the State’s leasing/auction program was scheduled to last through 2024 when they would reassess the program’s success. The Department of Lands has decided to offer leasing options and plans to continue the auction opportunity.