Fire Destroys Main Building At Morgan County’s Coolfont Resort

Coolfont Resort, a mountainside retreat located near Berkeley Springs, was devastated by a structure fire Sunday night, which destroyed the property’s main building.

Dispatchers were notified Sunday at 9:33 p.m. that Coolfont’s Treetop Restaurant & Lounge had caught fire, according to Morgan County E911 Director Marshall Younker.

Over several hours, Younker said 16 emergency response agencies from Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia attended to the blaze, including fire, hazmat and medical teams. No injuries were reported.

Among the respondents was the Hancock Volunteer Fire Department of Washington County, Maryland, led by Chief Robert Hoopengardner. Hoopengardner told West Virginia Public Broadcasting that the fire resulted in what “appeared to be” a total structural loss, but that emergency respondents contained it to the single building.

“We were there pretty much all night,” he said. “I think the last crews probably left around 5:30 or 6:00 [a.m.].”

Hoopengardner said the cause of the fire is yet to be determined. His team arrived at the scene later than most units, and the building’s rear side had already been engulfed in flames by then, he said.

On Monday morning, the Town of Bath — a municipal government located within Berkeley Springs — stated on Facebook that the fire had “rekindled,” but that local emergency respondents were working to extinguish it.

The Berkeley Springs Volunteer Fire Department, which led Sunday’s emergency response effort, did not immediately respond to phone call or email requests for comment on this story. Emergency response officials who spoke to WVPB did not mention any subsequent fires on site.

Despite the winter frost, Sunday’s fire was one of several to strike the Mountain State over the weekend. The West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s office reported that four residents across the state died from separate incidents over the weekend in a Monday Facebook post.

That included multiple fatal fires, plus a gas leak and explosion at a Harrison County residence Sunday.

In December, a brushfire in a nearby Cacapon Mountain area of Morgan County burned more than 100 acres of forest cover, WVPB previously reported.

Coolfont Resort did not respond to an email request for comment on this story. But since local media outlets first reported on the fire Sunday, numerous local and county organizations took to social media to express support for the Coolfont team and guidance for community members.

The Town of Bath notified residents via Facebook that the use of local water resources by fire respondents could temporarily cause low water pressure.

“We kindly ask for your understanding and patience during this time, as our brave firefighters continue their crucial work to bring the situation under control,” the post read.

Coolfront Resort has been a lodging and recreation mainstay for Morgan County since the 1960s, located at the base of Cacapon Mountain. The property features a lake, hiking trails, indoor swimming facilities and conference rooms, according to the resort website.

The Berkeley Springs-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce said in a Facebook post that their “hearts go out” to the resort staff and owners.

“Coolfont has been more than just a business. It’s been a cornerstone of life in Morgan County, offering great food, drinks, wellness and a venue for countless events,” the post read. “Many of us have personal stories tied to Coolfont, from community gatherings to quiet retreats.”

The chamber of commerce added that local organizations and community members are “ready to support” the resort “in any way we can.”

“While the loss is immense, we are deeply grateful that there was no loss of life — a testament to the swift actions of employees and emergency personnel,” they continued. “We’re here to help you rally, rebuild, and come through this stronger, because that’s who we are. Morgan County strong, always.”