PHOTOS: Officials were unable to determine the specific cause of the fire that destroyed the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge on May 7, 2023. The two-story 12,200 square foot lodge was an iconic visitor center for nearly 70 years before it was destroyed. It had been undergoing nearly $11 million in renovations at the time of its destruction. Luckily, all the artifacts and furniture in the lodge had been cleared out for construction so none of that was lost in the fire. Independent investigators determined that the fire likely originated in the northeast portion of the building. The Hurricane Ridge area reopened for the winter recreation season in Nov. 2023 after a brief closure in October. The area was closed so crews could demolish and remove what was left of the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge after it was destroyed.