An investigation into the May 2023 fire that destroyed the historic day lodge at Hurricane Ridge has found no conclusive cause, Olympic National Park officials said late last week.

Fire investigators were able to determine an area of origin but not the specific cause of the fire that destroyed the two-story, 12,200-square-foot structure on May 7, of last year, park officials said in a statement.

“Several potential ignition sources were identified but the specific source could not be determined,” park officials said in a press release on Jan. 19.

“Independent investigators determined the fire likely originated in the northeast portion of the building, which was unoccupied and undergoing a full interior renovation at the time.”

Park officials said that when the fire was discovered at 4:30 p.m. on May 7, 2023, the building was already a “total loss.” The long burn time, they said, destroyed evidence of fire patterns, triggered additional potential ignition sources and compromised investigators’ ability to analyze electrical components in the fire’s area of origin.

The full report is available online at nps.gov/aboutus/foia/foia-frd.htm.

Constructed in 1952, the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge had been renovated several times and housed the area’s hub for electrical, water and communications infrastructure. The fire destroyed facilities needed to support “full recreational access,” park officials said, so temporary restrooms were installed for limited public access throughout the summer of 2023.

The Hurricane Ridge area closed to public use on Oct. 16, for utilities construction and lodge debris demolition of the remaining lodge debris, and reopened for winter recreation on Nov. 24 — the Friday following Thanksgiving.

The area is now open for winter recreation on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through March 31.

For more information about visiting Hurricane Ridge, visit nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/hurricane-ridge-in-winter.htm.