Firefighters worked tirelessly to extinguish a substantial blaze that engulfed the abandoned Fort Rapids Resort in east Columbus yesterday night. The fire department received reports of smoke around 11:46 p.m., and the situation rapidly escalated, requiring additional resources. Although the high-rise waterpark area remains intact, the flames significantly damaged other parts of the property. As reported by ABC6 News.
Despite the challenging conditions, including a property heavily boarded up as firefighting crews doused the flames, there have been no reported injuries, detailed NBC4i. The fire comes just days after the sale of a once-popular resort to Drever Capital Management, a firm planning to convert the derelict buildings into affordable housing. The new owners, already invested nearly half a million dollars into the property's maintenance, face a more daunting challenge following the fire.
Once lauded as an entertainment haven, the structure now signifies years of neglect and decay. With no active fire alarms or sprinkler systems, it was labeled "a fire risk" before Sunday night's events, as per an inspection report mentioned by ABC6. The property has been closed since 2016 due to a patchwork of violations and has been a source of safety concerns and legal troubles for the previous owner, Jeff Kern.
According to information from WBNS, Kern was ordered to pay substantial fines for failing to bring the property to code, and a $2.5 million bond was set after he failed to attend a mandatory compliance hearing. Drever Capital Management's recent acquisition signals a shift toward rehabilitation, though the fire has undoubtedly complicated these plans.
Authorities are investigating the incident, and investigators are expected to commence their work during daylight hours. The Fort Rapids Resort saga continues to epitomize a complex interplay of community interests, legal entanglements, and urban decay—a once gleaming attraction now at the mercy of time and the elements.
