There’s no good time for a base lodge to burn down, but just before President’s Weekend is among the worst times. That’s what happened over the weekend at Pennsylvania’s tiny Mystic Mountain at Nemocolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington. 

“C’mon on over for Presidents Weekend,” General Manager Chris Plummer told SnoCountry.com. “We’ll be ready and we received some 16 inches of snow Saturday.” He said it will be “business as usual” and that the holiday is expected to be the busiest of the season. Mystic Mountain generally operates weekends only, extending to Monday for holidays. SnoCountry Reports is showing Mystic with a base of 22-24 inches, with slopes 100 percent open.

The base lodge at the ski area was engulfed in flames over the weekend and was completely gutted. Plummer said the cause of the fire is still under investigation and has not, as yet, been determined. 

The 15,000-squre-foot wooden base lodge was built in 1966 and housed a restaurant, bar, rental shop for winter and summer sports, and offices. The rental shop and equipment are completely gone.

Plummer told us food and beverage services have been moved to the summer lodge close by and several large tents will be ready for skier services, hospitality, and rentals.

“Give a shout out to our great friends at Seven Springs resort,” he asked us, noting that Seven Springs officials have loaned them some 250 pieces of rental equipment for the next two weekends.

Mystic’s ski terrain covers 25 acres with a 300-foot vertical drop and is serviced by three lifts, one of them a quad. Nemacolin Woodlands Resort is a family and luxury vacation destination on 2,000 wooded acres in the Laurel Highlands of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Six lodging accommodations range from the luxurious Falling Rock hotel to an RV park. 

What It Means: Live in the region? Give Mystic your business this weekend. Fires are devastating, but rising from the ashes so quickly to resume service is beyond commendable. The loan of rentals by Seven Springs shows just how close this industry can be when tragedy strikes.

Photo: Fire at Mystic Mountain base lodge courtesy WTAE.com