Olympic National Park will hire an outside investigator to determine the cause of the fire that destroyed the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge on Sunday, park officials announced late Monday.

The lodge was closed for a restoration project when the blaze was discovered Sunday afternoon. No one was hurt in the fire, which was reported by a law enforcement ranger on patrol around 4:30 p.m. Sunday,
May 7.

The ranger found the 1950s-era structure fully engulfed in flames, and the lodge burned to the ground.

Hurricane Ridge is a popular destination in Olympic National Park. The lodge has easy access in the park’s high alpine area and sits near the 5,000-foot level, but the 17-mile-long mountain road that leads to the lodge has been closed since the rehab effort started March 27.

Park officials said Clallam County Fire District 2 and the Port Angeles Fire Department responded to the fire, but the 12,200-square-foot building had collapsed to the foundation by the time crews arrived.

Federal officials expressed remorse at the loss of the lodge and vowed to rebuild.

“The loss of the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center is devastating for the Olympic Peninsula and for the more than 300,000 travelers who visit the iconic visitor center every year,” U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) said in a statement Monday.

“I am working with Secretary Haaland and the National Park Service to make sure this historic lodge is rebuilt,” Cantwell added.

Olympic National Park Superintendent Sula Jacobs said the lodge was a must-see destination in the park.

“The park team and I are saddened by the loss of the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge, an iconic structure in the park and one of its most popular sites,” Jacobs said.

“We are extremely grateful for the response of park partners in Clallam County Fire and Port Angeles Fire Department who responded to the incident. We are also grateful for the outpouring of support from the community as we move forward,” Jacobs added.

The lodge has been closed since March 27 as work began on a $10.8 million renovation project.

The project was expected to take two years, though the Hurricane Ridge area itself had been on track to reopen later this month before the Memorial Day weekend.

Park officials said the majority of the contents of the building had been removed before the start of the rehabilitation effort.   

The Hurricane Ridge Road from the Heart of the Hills Campground remains closed to the public as the investigation continues. The road is closed at the entrance station for Heart of the Hills.

The lodge was built in the early 1950s and housed interpretive exhibits on its second floor, as well as a gift shop and small café run by Aramark, a park concessionaire.

News of the loss prompted an outpouring of sorrow on social media posts from those who visited or had plans to see Hurricane Ridge, as well as hopes that the lodge would be rebuilt.

Reactions ranged from “heartbreaking” to “tragic.”

“Oh no! I was there last summer,” Iris Gray wrote in a social media post. “I loved it. I’m so sorry to see it gone. Here’s hoping it will rise like a phoenix from the ashes.”

“Oh my goodness, so many memories there,” posted Martha Ruth.

“One of my fav spots to escape to in the pandemic,” added Marilyn Marshall.

“This is devastating,” added Debbi DeMarce.

“Still can’t believe it’s gone. So glad no one was injured,” wrote Katlin Springer-Dippery.