The Jesse Stuart Lodge at Greenbo Lakes State Resort Park is closed until further notice due to safety concerns.
Kentucky State Parks Commissioner Donnie Holland made that decision after receiving the draft of an engineering report that concludes the building is no longer safe for occupancy.
“The lodge has been closed to visitors and guests for the past six months ago after an electrical fire that caused smoke damage to the main lodge and some of the resort’s 36 guest rooms,” Commissioner Holland said.
“Construction workers alerted us to a potential problem with the roof as they were working to repair damage caused by a fire back in October. Safety is our top priority, and we feel it necessary to keep the lodge closed until more repairs are made.”
The Jesse Stuart Lodge was tentatively scheduled to reopen May 30, 2016 after the repairs from the fire damage were completed. However, this development will delay the reopening for several months beyond the Memorial Day weekend.
The Kentucky Finance and Administrative Cabinet authorized Palmer Engineering of Winchester, Kentucky to inspect the roof on the Jesse Stuart Lodge located in Greenup County, Kentucky. The engineering report concludes “the building is unsafe for occupancy.” The report recommends either repairing the lobby trusses in-place or replacing the support beams with new ones.
“The safety of our guests and our state parks employees is our primary concern. That’s why we are closing the lodge at Greenbo State Resort Park for the foreseeable future,” said Don Parkinson, Secretary of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet which oversees all of the Commonwealth’s 49 state parks.
“We have invited employees displaced by this latest repair to fill jobs at the other state park facilities in the area,” Parkinson said. Carter Caves State Resort Park, Grayson Lake State Park, and Yatesville Lake State Park are all within 60 miles of Greenbo Lake State Resort Park.
The swimming pool, campgrounds, marina, and recreational amenities at Greenbo Lake State Resort Park will remain open during the renovation of the lodge.
Greenbo Lake State Resort Park opened in 1971. The lodge is named after renowned Kentucky poet and novelist Jesse Stuart.
(story provided by Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet)
