Mad River Mountain lodge ready to reopen after fire

Associated Press

ZANESFIELD, Ohio

The snow machines billowed clouds of snow as the sun cut through the wintry haze to illuminate Mad River Mountain’s new lodge. The beams of light also brought the promise of better luck this ski season.

Inside, carpenters, electricians and designers scrambled to complete work on the $7.5 million lodge in the run-up to its official opening late last month. A ribbon-cutting was held for the new Lodge & Loft on Friday, Dec. 30.

A fire on Sept. 16, 2015, destroyed Mad River Mountain’s 53-year-old lodge, food-service area and loft.

The fire, whose cause was never determined, was followed by an unusually warm season, stalling business and worrying the Logan County community of Zanesfield, which relies on tourism revenue from the 150,000 seasonal guests and about 500 employees.

The fire “was very upsetting,” said Michael Mihnovets, the lodge’s marketing manager. “It took off fast and was a total loss.”

The temporary lodge built after the fire is being replaced by a 45,000-square-foot permanent structure that is double the size of the original. Insurance money and additional funding from owner Peak Resorts allowed for the larger space.

“It’s very exciting to have all this, and not have it go away,” said Mihnovets. “Everything we’re doing is going to be here for years to come.”

“My space is twice as big as it was,” said Dianne Meddles, who for 18 seasons has operated the gift shop. “I don’t know what to do with it all, to be honest.”

As she unpacked gloves, socks, hats, mugs and ski goggles, Meddles said the inventory is “based on what everyone forgets or loses while they’re here.”