SIGEL, Pa. (EYT) – Hope is on the horizon at Farmers Inn just two days after a devastating fire destroyed the popular Cook Forest area restaurant.

Photos by Sammi Elder. Video by Scott Shindledecker.

Owner Kim Lucas, who plans to rebuild the restaurant, says she’s extremely thankful for the support she has received since the building burned down early Tuesday morning.

“I am so thankful for all the support, food, well wishes I’ve received since it happened,” Lucas said in an interview Wednesday with exploreJeffersonPA.com.

Firefighters were dispatched around 3:30 a.m. to a massive structure fire at the popular Cook Forest area restaurant located at 759 Shaffer Road, just north of Sigel on State Route 949, Jefferson County.

The building was a complete loss, with damage estimated at $1.5 million.

Lucas is busy working at getting the wreckage from the burned restaurant removed, so the Farmers Inn property – which includes a petting zoo, general store, and driving ranges – can reopen.

“I’m just going down to check the messages to see if I can get someone in here soon to clean up the mess. Once that gets done, we can get gravel in here, make it safe again for everyone, and reopen,” Lucas said.

Farmers Inn is temporarily closed until that time, and Lucas is hopeful that it could be sometime next week; however, she isn’t sure at this point when exactly it will reopen. She is still busy dealing with things her insurance company needs and getting her employees paid because the payroll records were lost in the fire.

There is a fundraiser for Lucas, one she says she appreciates but doesn’t need.

Brandon Cook, a close family friend, set up a GoFundMe.com page for Farmers Inn, and it is a legitimate page.

While Lucas greatly appreciates the kind gesture, she says there are people who need to hang on to their money.

“It is very meaningful, but we will be okay,” Lucas said.

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