Financial backers pursuing recourse as Oculis Lodge property heads to auction
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Oculis Lodge, once crowdfunded for $1.2M, faces auction after project collapse.
- Only one dome built; property now listed with $75K starting bid and foreclosure filed.
- Backers threaten legal action with no clarity over the guarantee of refunds.
The Oculis Lodge property in Glacier is set to be auctioned off this month for just a fraction of the cost its project backers invested into the original dream of developing the site as a “luxury lodging” resort with more than two dozen private dome structures.
The Oculis Lodge was an Indiegogo crowdfunding project branded as “ultimate luxury lodging in the Cascade mountains,” to be built on a 2.16-acre parcel in Whatcom County, at the base of Mount Baker.
The project earned the title of “most funded lodging in Indiegogo history,” according to the Indiegogo website, after more than 1,700 backers helped fund the project in 2022 with more than $1.2 million.
However, the project quickly drew sharp criticism from locals who were skeptical of its feasibility. Meanwhile, funding backers expressed increasing frustration as promises by the developer went unmet and the project hit repeated delays over the last several years.
The original development plan publicly came to a final halt — and drew significant backlash from backers waiting to cash in on their investment with a stay at the property — when the site of the proposed resort was listed for sale in March of this year, with just one dome completed on the grounds.
The property was listed for sale on Redfin on March 18 for $725,000, according to previous reporting by The Herald. The listing has since been removed, with the property now set to be auctioned at a starting bid price of $75,000, according to Washington auctioneer company Crexi.
The auction listing calls the property a “turnkey short-term rental with mixed-use 2.16-acre resort land” that is zoned for “diverse hospitality development opportunities.”
“At its heart stands a one of a kind architecturally stunning 700-square foot concrete dome, a one-of-a-kind luxury dwelling that blends modern innovation with comfort. This thoughtfully designed one-bedroom retreat, complete with a versatile loft with two beds, accommodates up to six guests, making it an attractive rental or a private getaway while the rest of the property is developed,” the auction listing states.
That property includes the existing dome, exterior deck, jacuzzi, sauna and fire pit, along with pre-approved water supply and septic plans for 30 guests, according to the listing description.
Bidding for the property opens at 9 a.m. June 9. A $10,000 participation deposit is required, according to the listing.
The property is listed to be auctioned off by Whatcom County on Aug. 26 if this first round of bidding is unsuccessful. Foreclosure documents for the property were filed with the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office last month that indicate the project’s founder, Youri Benoiston, failed to pay the property’s principal, principal interest, incurred late fees and recent property taxes.
Project backers have threatened legal action if they don’t receive refunds, something Indiegogo won’t guarantee if a project falls through. Benoiston has yet to respond to inquiries from The Herald about whether he intends to refund backers.
“Investing in a startup inherently carries risk,” Benoiston told backers on the project’s Indiegogo page. “This is not the same as booking a vacation on Expedia where expectations are clearly defined and predictable. Startups are dynamic, evolving, and subject to a range of challenges, including the ones we’ve faced.”
More than 80 original project backers formed a private Facebook group called “Oculis Lodge Backers” aimed at figuring out a way to get their money back.
“We unfortunately put our trust in Youri Benoiston and Indiegogo, and it appears we got scammed. Working together to get our refunds,” the group’s description reads.
This story was originally published June 2, 2025 at 2:24 PM.
