Felton Trout Farm Inn begins long rise from the ashes

July 22--FELTON -- When a grease fire broke out in the hood of the kitchen grill June 5, Trout Farm Inn owner Kelly McGuire battled the blaze with three fire extinguishers in a failed effort to stop it from consuming his restaurant.

Minutes later, he was forced to evacuate with the rest of the employees and restaurant patrons. En masse, they crossed East Zayante Road to watch the building he and wife Yvonne had leased for five years burn.

Nearly seven weeks later, the Trout Farm Inn remains a charred shell, yet the property's seven owners have taken initial steps toward rebuilding the iconic business, which has existed in one form or another since 1914.

Co-owner Russell Gross said the owner group fully intends on rebuilding once the insurance process is finalized. They have applied for a demolition permit from the county and hope to knock down the remains of the restaurant as early as next week.

"The pool and the snack shack and bathrooms and four-plex of private residences down below will all remain intact," Gross said. "We'll just demolish the restaurant."

Despite the fact that the community pool and snack shack remain relatively undamaged, Gross said plans to reopen those facilities must wait until after the restaurant is razed.

"Then we'll meet with the county to see if we can install satisfactory safety measures for the pool and snack shack area prior to the summer season ending," Gross said.

Gross said the ownership group has begun talking to an architect and contractor. They hope to begin vetting designs for a new Felton Trout Farm Inn soon.

"All of us (in the ownership group) have really deep roots in the San Lorenzo Valley. That's why we bought the Felton Trout Farm property in the first place," Gross said. "We understand as well as anyone its importance."

Although McGuire said he and his wife would "jump at" the chance to run the Felton Trout Farm Inn again, the couple are looking for a small space to reopen another restaurant in the meantime.

"We love the restaurant business, as brutal as it can be, and want to get right back in the game," McGuire said.

Jim Vernazza, a San Lorenzo Valley resident, businessman and close friend of the McGuires, has spearheaded a fundraising effort that he hopes will raise $20,000 to help the couple through tough times.

"I noticed, throughout the years, how hard working of a family they were. They all worked so hard to keep that place open," Vernazza said. "I run my own business so I know it's not easy. When this happened, I felt for them. I just want to help them get back on their feet and pay their bills."

A fundraising event and raffle sponsored by Vernazza and his business, Vernazza Painting, will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Joe's Bar in Boulder Creek. Raffle prizes include a paint job valued up to $4,000, a private dinner yacht cruise out of the Santa Cruz Harbor and a weekend stay in Big Sur.

Tickets are $50 a ticket and can be bought online or at the event, Vernazza said. Participants don't have to be present to win.

"The support from this community has been truly amazing and humbling," McGuire said. "I simply do not have the words to express our appreciation for him and a host of others that have been so supportive."

A separate online fundraiser has also raised more than $8,000 for the McGuire family.

TROUT FARM INN FUNDRAISING EVENT

What: Fundraising raffle to financially support the owners of the Felton Trout Farm Inn, who lost their business in a fire June 5.

Where: Joe's Bar, 13118 Highway 9, Boulder Creek.

When: 7 p.m., Wednesday.

Cost: $50 a raffle ticket. Purchase tickets online at troutfarmfundraiserraffletickets.myevent.com or by mail to Trout Farm Family Fundraiser, P.O. Box 315, Felton, CA 95018.

Information: 831-462-1055 or jim@vernazzapainting.com.

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