Fire Destroys Lodge at Western New York Ski Area

Authorities say a fire has destroyed the landmark lodge at a western New York ski resort.

The Post-Journal of Jamestown and Buffalo media outlets report that the fire was spotted by a Chautauqua County Highway Department plow driver around 10:30 p.m. Monday at the Cockaigne Ski Center in the town of Cherry Creek, 45 miles south of Buffalo.

Several fire companies battled the blaze at the resort’s Austrian World’s Fair Pavilion for about four hours before extinguishing the flames.

No one was inside the building and no injuries are reported.

The cause of the blaze is being investigated.

The pavilion was built in Austria for the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City. It was purchased the next year by Cockaigne and reconstructed at the ski slope in 1966.