Ponderosa Lodge 'a total loss' following structure fire during severe storm

In Central California, high within the Sierra Nevada mountains sits a small, tight-knit community.

With a population of fewer than 80 people, Ponderosa residents’ livelihoods have been threatened due to the recent atmospheric rivers sweeping through the state.

The Ponderosa Lodge – known as “the cornerstone of its small mountain community” – burned to the ground on March 10, leaving owners David and Jennifer Sharp with nothing but charred rubble.

“The whole entire thing has just been one wild ride,” David said. “We are devastated and heartbroken, to say the least... Heart, soul, and everything we had was in that place.”

Like the firefighters desperate to get to the lodge late Friday, the duo was basically trapped on the outside looking in. The storm left behind feet of snow, making travel throughout the area impossible.

They had to wait four days before they could travel into town.

“Closure was actually seeing it,” David said. “It’s been like a pill that’s been stuck in your throat that you have to swallow over the last four days, and you can’t.

Finally, you get it down... and then it’s done.”

It is believed that falling ice created by the severe storm struck and damaged a propane tank, causing the fire. Residents told the owners they heard a crash before flames engulfed the building.

Unfortunately, the property was uninsured after being dropped by their carrier during the recent wildfires, leaving David and Jennifer feeling helpless.

Photos from the aftermath show the rubble left behind.

Before the fire, the Ponderosa Lodge had a general store, tavern, mercantile and restaurant with themed foods, like the Pondo Fries, Ponderosa burger and Ponderosa cheesesteak.

Handpicked and one-of-a-kind items and local artisan products were also sold by the lodge.

“The lodge has meant so much to so many, but no one more than its current owners,” Chris Adams, organizer of the Ponderosa Lodge GoFundMe said. “They have dedicated their money, blood, sweat and tears, tirelessly working to keep the lodge running and creating a magical space for so many of us to enjoy.”

The lodge has provided community members and travelers with a place to eat, sleep and drink since the 1960s.

“This was the pinnacle of where people came in, not only in the community, but this whole entire mountain,” David said. “This is where everybody comes.”

David and Jennifer purchased the lodge for over $500,000 in 2018. Two years later, when the surrounding area was under evacuation due to the SQF Complex Fire, they provided shelter to firefighters and journalists and handed out over 11,000 meals in just four weeks.

Since taking over the Ponderosa Lodge, the couple has poured their life savings into making upgrades to the area. All of it was lost in a matter of minutes.

Now, the owners are focusing on moving forward. Thanks to the GoFundMe page Adams created, David and Jennifer have a $60,000 start on rebuilding; however, the overall monetary goal hasn’t been met yet.

“We got a call this morning from a friend of mine, and he talked about rebuilding,” David said. “We couldn’t even fathom the idea, but now, he put some pep in my step... maybe we can actually get some things done.”

Memories of the Ponderosa Lodge

After sharing the news over the weekend, hundreds of people have shared personal memories or stories about the Ponderosa Lodge on social media.

“Favorite lunch place in the mountains,” Donnetta Murray wrote, sharing a photo of two people riding horses. “Sitting on the deck in the summer, you never knew how people would arrive in the parking lot.”

A handful of community members said they enjoyed the chili cook-offs each year, others described the area as the perfect motorcycle and snowmobile pit stop. A few couples spent an anniversary or two at the lodge.

“But the best thing of all about Ponderosa Lodge is you were family, they never forgot your name, always welcomed you and made you feel at home always,” Shona Torix wrote. “This tradition never wavered through the different owners. I pray that you can rebuild.”

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Ponderosa Lodge 'a total loss' following structure fire during storm