Ski business to resume despite fire
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Sculptor Serguei Velidtchenko of Markleysburg, Fayette County, who created the sundial sculpture at the ski lodge, surveyed the damage. -
Flames continued early this morning at the ski lodge at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort.
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WHARTON, Pa. -- Nemacolin Woodlands Resorts' ski business will be open this weekend, but without its Sundial Ski Lodge.
The 15,000-square-foot lodge burned to the ground last night, and parts of it were still smoldering this morning.
Nevertheless, "It's going to be business as usual" this weekend, the resort's busiest ski weekend of the year because of the Presidents Day holiday period, said Nemacolin Woodlands general manager Chris Plummer.
Resort employees noticed smoke coming from the Sundial Ski Lodge shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday, spokesman Jeff Nobers said.
Firefighters from 13 departments in four counties were unable to save the structure.
PG VIDEO"It literally burned to the ground," Mr. Nobers said this morning. He did not know the value of the structure, which opened in 1996 and housed a ski-rental shop, a restaurant, a bar and offices.
No one was inside when the fire broke out, Mr. Nobers said. One firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation. There were no other injuries.
Firefighters left the scene this morning after dousing the still-smoldering wreckage.
The fire was devastating, too, for people associated with the lodge.
Sculptor Serguei Velidtchenko of Markleysburg, Fayette County, created a piece called, appropriately, "The Sundial," which sits outside the lodge.
With tears in his eyes, he gazed past his creation this morning, settling on the burned-out structure in the background.
"I cannot describe how bad it is," he said.
The resort intends to open for skiing, snowboarding and snowtubing as usual on Friday, both Mr. Plummer and Mr. Nobers said.
It will use the nearby Caddyshack restaurant as a base of operations and set up heated tents as well, Mr. Nobers said.
Inside the lodge was the resort's entire inventory of rental equipment for both winter and summer sports. Mr. Plummer said the resort is trying to find rental ski equipment for the upcoming weekend. The ski area is open only Fridays through Sundays.
Mr. Nobers said the building was engulfed minutes after the blaze was reported. Mr. Plummer said firefighters arrived quickly "but they couldn't have done anything more."
Fire officials said strong winds fueled the flames and firefighters had trouble with fire hydrants because of the freezing temperatures.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Mr. Plummer said the resort will rebuild the lodge.
"We don't have a choice. We've got to do something. That's our hub for winter and summer activity."
First Published February 13, 2012 5:34 am
