Kitchen fire closes Riverside Inn

Oct. 23--LELAND -- Investigators blame a bag of linens for sparking a fire that damaged a historic Leland inn and restaurant, forcing the owner to close until spring.

The blaze ignited Friday at about 4:30 a.m. and burned the kitchen inside The Riverside Inn. The flames stayed within the kitchen and did not spread to the rest of the inn where eight guests stayed at the time, said owner Kate Vilter.

Leland Township Fire and Rescue Chief Dan Besson said firefighters quickly doused the fire.

The flames reached the roof above the entry door and cooler. It took personnel more time to make sure all flames were doused, Besson said.

Suttons Bay Bingham Fire and Rescue personnel assisted at the scene.

Investigators probed the damage and told Vilter they suspect a bag of linens spontaneously combusted and sparked the fire that torched the kitchen, she said.

Vilter said the inn will close until workers can finish the rehabilitation. She aims for a reopening in May.

"I'm guessing the kitchen will go back down to studs and be rebuilt," said Vilter, who confirmed her insurance coverage on the building.

She said they typically stay open through November, reopen for the Christmas season and close again until spring.

Less than a week has passed since the blaze, but the community already is coming together to support Vilter and her workers.

She commonly hosts a wild game dinner at the inn, but the damage left by the flames put a damper on those plans. The owners of Streetside Grille in Suttons Bay agreed to accommodate the event.

Vilter said all of the admission proceeds -- $65 per person -- will go to her employees to compensate for missed wages. Money collected at the bar will go to Streetside Grille, she said.

"This community ... has been amazing," she said. "Everyone is really coming around to support us and our staff."

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