Lost Valley Lake Sports Arena Destroyed By Fire (Photo By: Jim Dieckhaus) |
OWENSVILLE, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com)—
A 20,000 square foot sports complex at a popular Missouri lake resort burned to the ground Sunday morning in a three alarm fire. The state fire marshal's office is now investigating. The fire broke out around 8:30 A.M. at the Lost Valley Lake Resort, on Highway ZZ northeast of Gerald, in Gasconade County. No one was injured in the blaze"We're lucky no one was hurt," says interim manager Carrie Tainter. The complex was empty. It was about thirty minutes from opening, and most Sunday mornings it is packed shortly after it opens. "We had a full house last night. Everything we owned was rented and we had many, many campers."
The complex housed an arcade, a workout facility, mini golf course, and a movie theater. The complex is a total loss.
Dozens of firefighters from at least eight nearby departments came to help. They pumped water from the 100 thousand gallon swimming pool next door to the complex and from two lakes on the property.
"When you get to this area you kind of are familiar with how you're far away from any city, you've gotta consider your rural operations," explains Battalion Chief Jordan Lottman, of the Gerald and Rosebud Fire Department.
Tainter says the resort will remain open, and they already plan to rebuild.
It is the second major fire at the resort. Within the last five to ten years, says Tainter, the main lodge at the resort complex burned. A replacement lodge is now under construction.
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