Farmington, PA – Firefighters from 13 departments spent Sunday evening battling a fire that has destroyed the base lodge of Mystic Mountain ski area at Namacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, southeast of Pittsburg.

The resort’s 15,000 square-foot Sundial Ski Lodge was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived. The glow from the fire could be seen from as far away as Normalville, some 30 miles distant. Firefighters were vexed by fire hydrants frozen in the 9ºF temperatures, and the structure which housed the ski rental shop, restaurant, bar and offices collapsed from the blaze, with only ashes, charred timbers and the foundation remaining this morning.

“Fortunately, ski operations had closed for the day and the building was vacant,” resort officials said in a statement posted to Facebook. “The ski lift and adjacent structures were not damaged and for the remainder of the ski season, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort will offer winter sports including skiing, snowboarding, tubing and dog sledding for our neighbors and guests.”

In the meantime, the resort has promised that ski operations will continue unabated, based out of the resort’s Caddyshack Restaurant and heated tents. The ski area is normally open only Fridays through Sundays.

“We want to thank our valued associates and the countless fire and EMS personnel from the region for their prompt response,” the statement continued. “Due to their swift actions, the surrounding activity venues were spared and our ski season will continue. Although, flames destroyed the ski lodge, nothing can destroy the spirit of adventure that transformed this mountain retreat into a world class resort.”

Resort officials also thanked nearby Seven Springs Resort in Champion, Penn., for assisting Mystic Mountain in obtaining ski rentals. The cause of the fire is under investigation, and resort officials promise that they’ll rebuild the structure.