Menu
Groups search for other facilities after loss of Elk's Lodge
Local Elk's members and the community suffered a huge loss last week when a late night fire destroyed the Elk's Lodge facility in Mountain Home but plans are already underway to rebuild the community venue as quickly as possible.
In the short term, Lodge Manager Marie Bollinger, who has been fielding many calls, said, "We are doing what we can to help groups that had events booked this fall to find a different facility."
Some of the larger events, like the Fireman's Ball and the Domestic Violence Ball, have been moved to the American Legion Hall at 515 E. 2nd S.
The Legion Hall moved the event date for its annual oyster feed to accommodate the Fireman's Ball, which will be held on Nov. 24.
Fire Chief Phil Gridley said, "I can't tell you how much I appreciate it." Tickets for that ball go on sale November 10.
Another large event that has been moved is the Elkette's Annual Christmas Bazaar, billed as the largest in Mountain Home, which will be held Nov. 17 at the Legion Hall.
The Legion Hall offers comparable facilities for banquets and meeting space, with kitchen facilities and bar service available to groups. The difference is that the hall can only accommodate approximately 200 persons, whereas the Elks Lodge could handle over 300.
Other facilities in the area that can be used for large gatherings include the National Guard Armory north of the city at Edgemeade. That building can host up to 512 persons but food and beverages need to be catered, no alcohol is permitted and it is not available for use on Idaho National Guard drill weekends.
The Hampton Inn and the Best Western hotels, owned by Johnson Brothers Hospitality, both have meeting rooms with capacity ranging from 30-96 persons, based on seating style.
"Our meeting rooms are primarily for guest use," Sales Manager Jerry Little noted. "If they have not been scheduled within 30 days of the desired date for an event, then we are able to rent the rooms to the public."
Food and beverage service would need to be catered with the use of either hotel.
The Desert Winds Golf Course building is suitable for smaller groups and offers food and bar service.
The police stations has a small meeting room available to the public, as does the library, but the library meeting room is booked solid into January of next year.
Bollinger wanted to remind meeting planners that "anyone booking an event at the Elk's Lodge through 2007 will receive a refund of any deposits paid."
"Between now and the end of the year, we have lost thousands of dollars in revenue," she said. The lodge had events booked through July 2008.
The Board of Trustees, the officers and the management are moving quickly through the process of planning for a new building.
"A private company is conducting an investigation into the cause of the fire and the insurance adjuster has been really easy to work with," said Bollinger, "We are hopeful but not certain, at the point, that we could have a new building by next summer."
A temporary building will be placed on the site so the administrative functions of the organization can continue. Bollinger did not know if the parts of the burned building would be salvaged or the entire building demolished.
"We should know a lot more in the next couple of weeks," Bollinger said.
For people who had events scheduled at the Elk's Lodge this fall needing assistance in locating another facility, contact Marie Bollinger at 587-7370.