COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Community members came together to share memories and support amidst the ash and rubble left behind from Monday’s fire at Wolf Lodge Inn.
The iconic restaurant went up in flames on Labor Day and was completely destroyed by the flames that afternoon.
The day after the fire, former patrons and staff stopped by the restaurant to leave flowers, offer hugs to each other and cope with the loss together.
“I’m a little bit in shock, to be honest. I feel a lot of sadness because this is a piece of the neighborhood and has been for so long,” said James Bosworth who lives up the road from Wolf Lodge.
Some community members described the Wolf Lodge Inn as a ‘family’.
“Mothers have worked here and then their daughters have worked here. All of the Martel family, I think, worked here,” said Heather Waites, whose two daughters both worked at the restaurant.
Even though the community is grieving the loss of the Inn, the restaurant’s legacy will live on.
“Everything else is replaceable. It’s just stuff and memories. And the memories live on. Yes, they do,” said Bosworth.
The manager’s son was inside when the fire ignited and said it was started by a grill fire, however the official cause of the fire is still under investigation.
As of now, it is unclear if the owners plan to rebuild.
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