Minnesota Horse And Hunt Club Bar Destroyed By Fire
PRIOR LAKE, Minn. (WCCO) –A historic piece of the Prior Lake community is now gone.
A fire broke out inside the Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club just before dawn on Tuesday. When fire crews arrived on the 2900 block of East 220th Street, they could see smoke coming from the restaurant portion of the building, known as Trigger's Bar.
"It was engulfed in smoke, and there was no way I could save anything," general manager Terry Correll said.
Prior Lake Fire Chief Doug Hartman said the building was "fully involved in fire" by the time firefighters arrived at the scene. Five fire departments had to be called in to help.
"The weather complicates things," Hartman said. "Equipment doesn't want to operate as it normally does, and the roads were slick so it all adds up."
While no one was hurt in the fire, decades of history were lost.
"I've been here 39 years, you're talking all of our mounts, our memories, all the events we've hosted over the years [lost]," Corell said. "We've been a big part of sporting clay history."
The club had a New Year's Eve celebration planned for nearly 100 people that had to be canceled. Restaurants in the area offered to help make room for their customers.
"It's going to break their heart that they can't come out and enjoy the fireplace, the clubhouse and the rustic log cabin," Correll said.
The club will still continue outdoor business while the owners rebuild the clubhouse and restaurant. The Minnesota State Pheasant Championship slated for this weekend will also go on as scheduled.
Firefighters are investigating the cause of the fire.