ESTES PARK - The owners of Marys Lake Lodge, which was heavily damaged by a fire over the weekend, plan to rebuild according to a post on their website.
Around 8:10 p.m Saturday, crews responded to the lodge at 2625 Marys Lake Rd. to find heavy smoke coming from the west side of the building and flames coming from the roof. There was a wedding reception in progress at the time. All the guests were forced to evacuate.
"We got one or two dances in and the staff came through and told us to clear the building," said Mike Friedel, the father of the bride.
At one point, more 50 firefighters from several agencies were battling the fire. The roof collapsed over the main section of the building during the firefighting effort. It was finally considered under control around 1:30 a.m. Sunday,
"While there is a lot of work to do, Marys Lake Lodge WILL BE BACK," a post on their website says. "The damage was not as extensive as has been reported in social media and the press."
They went on to say that they "plan to be ready to serve our brides, grooms, their family and friends in the Marys Lake Lodge tradition." The owners also said they have been "overwhelmed" by the outpouring of support.
A spokesperson for Estes Valley Fire said the damage is estimated at $5 million. Investigators spent Sunday morning at the fire scene trying to determine the cause and origin of the fire.
Marys Lake Lodge opened in 1913 and earned its place on the State Register of Historic Properties for its unique character, according to its website.
