Rick Langenberg
Even a disastrous fire can’t destroy the community spirit of Florissant.
Less than two weeks after a fire nearly scorched a historic gem and community gathering point for decades, the Thunderbird Inn bar and restaurant is slated to fully reopen sometime this week.
And if there is a hero in this story, the gold medal belongs to the Florissant fire department and local residents, who weren’t going to let the T-Bird legacy, which dates back to the 1920s, die. “The amount of community support we have received is unbelievable. It is overwhelming,” said owner Russ Howard, the owner of the Thunderbird since 1981, following another day of around-the-clock clean-up efforts by locals and many contractors. “People came out from everywhere wanting to help.”
With a little luck, the bar area, which incurred the bulk of the damage, could reopen this week. The Inn recently had a partial reopening in their outdoor patio and pool room area.
Following a near devastating blaze, actually spotted by a member of the fire department, Howard said he received an outpour of support that turned a possible horrific tragedy into an amazing recovery. The fire occurred around 11:30 p.m. Oct. 1. Fire rescue officials initially reported that crews had to force entry through multiple doors. The bulk of the fire was reported in the front bar area near the fireplace, with damage spreading to the floor and walls. The fire was also spotted around the stove pipe, ceiling and attic area. It was doused within 15 minutes, according to news reports.
The fire was apparently caused by an incident pertaining to its wood-burning stove. No final conclusions, though, have been rendered.
Oddly enough, this is the first real disaster Howard has experienced since owning the business for four-plus decades. However, this represents the second fire that has occurred at a local bar/restaurant in the area, in the last few months. An old building in the center of Green Mountain Falls, which houses the Blue Moose Tavern and the Cantina Verde restaurant, experienced a blaze in their basement area, an incident that led to the business’ closure for more than a week during the peak of the tourist season.
Howard stressed that the local community deserves the credit for facilitating the reopening of the Thunderbird Inn.
Local residents and civic leaders have described the Thunderbird Inn as a community institution. A fund-raising post on GoFundMe, shared by the Thunderbird, echoed this theme: “The historic Thunderbird Inn is around 100 years old, a longtime family staple in the tiny mining community in the mountains,” the GoFundMe said. “The family ties and strong community that support the Thunderbird run deep… With your help we can get your beloved hangout back up and running, better than new, in no time.”
The Thunderbird has also gained legendary status for hosting celebrations of life for revered community residents and featuring some amazing special events.
