Mud Lake’s oldest building demolished after September fire

Nearly two months after a fire destroyed the oldest building in Mud Lake, demolition crews began the process of tearing the building down.

“Breaks my heart,” said Nikki Thomson, an owner of the Painted Pony Bar & Grill. “The whole thing has been tough.”

The Painted Pony Bar & Grill caught fire in September. Members of the West Jefferson Fire Department and INL Fire Department fought the fire for nine hours. The building is considered a total loss.

Built in the 1930s, the Painted Pony had reopened just weeks before the fire broke out. Nikki and Scottie Thomson bought the bar, known then as the ‘Wayside’, three months prior. After a remodel, they reopened it under the new name “The Painted Pony Bar and Grill” just four weeks before the fire destroyed their dream business.

“It was something we’ve wanted to do,” Scottie Thomson told KIFI/KIDK in September.

Demolition crews will spend the next couple of days tearing the building down and removing the rubble. When asked in September, Scottie Thomson said he was not sure if he would rebuild.

The state fire marshall is investigating the cause of the fire, which is believed to have started in the chimney. No one was hurt in the fire.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help out the Thomsons. If you’d like to donate, click here.