'Sad to see it go': Renowned Kenosee restaurant destroyed in overnight fire
The Moosehead Inn in Kenosee Lake, Sask. was completely destroyed by a fire on Friday night.
Owner Dale Orsted told CTV News that the blaze broke out around 11:30 p.m., but the cause has not yet been confirmed.
The 50-year-old business was a well known meeting spot in southeastern Saskatchewan.
“I feel bad for my family – that’s their livelihood – my workers and all the smiling people that come and dance and have so much fun,” Orsted said.
A pile of debris is left where the Moosehead Inn once stood, following a fire. (Hafsa Arif/CTV News)
Originally built in 1961 – the inn was known for its ghost stories, dancing and famous Moosehead pizza. The main floor was a steakhouse restaurant, while the second floor included a night club and cabaret.
“It was a never ending party you know, and a lot of good memories. Sad to see it go. It was a big thing for Kenosee,” Orsted said.
The business struggled to stay afloat throughout the year due to pressures created by the pandemic. It reopened its doors three months ago.
With no income coming in during the pandemic, Orsted said he was forced to make the tough decision not to repurchase insurance for the inn.
“I talked to an insurance company on Tuesday and I said ‘all I want is fire insurance and don’t worry about the add-ons,’ but [I] took the gamble and I lost,” Orsted said.
Orsted said he will clean up the property with the intention to sell it. He said he does not have plans to rebuild.
Crews were able to get the fire completely put out around 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Kenosee Lake is approximately 200 kilometres south east of Regina.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's 'most wanted terrorist' arrested on gun charges in Canada
One of India's most wanted terrorists has been arrested and charged in connection with a recent alleged shooting in Ontario.
12-year-old boy charged in stabbing of 11-year-old boy at Edmonton McDonald's
The boy stabbed at a north Edmonton McDonald's last Friday is 11 years old.
What makes walking so great for your health and what else you need to do
Medical experts agree that walking is an easy way to improve physical and mental health, bolster fitness and prevent disease. While it’s not the only sort of exercise people should do, it’s a great first step toward a healthy life.
U.S. Congress hosts second round of UFO hearings
The U.S. government held another UFO hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, the second such hearing in 16 months. This hearing was billed as an attempt by congress to provide a better understanding of what is known about previous sightings of UFOs, also known as UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena).
Toronto teenager charged with first-degree murder in Kitchener, Ont. homicide
A Toronto teen has been charged as part of an investigation into Kitchener, Ont.’s first homicide of 2024.
Spy service officer denies threatening Montreal man who was later imprisoned in Sudan
A Canadian Security Intelligence Service official has denied threatening a Montreal man who was later imprisoned and allegedly tortured by authorities in Sudan.
Donald Trump picks Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz to serve as attorney general
President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday said he will nominate Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to serve as his attorney general, putting a loyalist in the role of the nation's top prosecutor.
This Canadian airline will adopt Apple's new AirTag feature to help recover lost baggage. Here's how
Apple announced that a new feature, 'Share Item Location,' will help users locate and recover misplaced items by sharing an AirTag location with third parties including airlines.
Canada bracing for 'tough' talks as Trump's pick calls northern border an 'extreme vulnerability'
The Canadian government is aware it's likely in for 'tough conversations' with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's administration, after his border czar said there is 'an extreme national security vulnerability' he intends to tackle at the Canada-U.S. border.