The Full Throttle Saloon that hosted thousands of bikers and billed itself as the 'The World's Biggest Biker Bar' was destroyed by fire early Tuesday morning.
Firefighters from multiple agencies, including Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department responded to South Dakota Highway 34 about 12:30 in the morning. In the Fire Department Facebook page, it showed heavy smoke is coming out from the building that once stood. The cause of the fire is yet unknown.
A crew from the Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department said that the bar was made of "wood and steel beams."
"It was a very hot fire. There was a lot of dry wood in there that they built their stuff out of for the last few years," Scott Lensegrave, assistant Sturgis fire chief told KOTA Territory News.
Firefighters tried to penetrate the area but smoke and scorching heat forced them to battle the blaze from the outside. At 3 am the once iconic hot spot was completely gone.
"It became fully involved, all the way back to the distillery; and the wind took hold of it and it was a naturally pushed fire with the wind and it went from one end to the other," Lensegrave recalled.
Now that the building is on the ground, they are still hoping that they can rebuild the once popular saloon.
"I'm kind of sick to my stomach," Full Throttle Saloon artist Dean Mauldein said. "I've been here 11 years. Hopefully we will rebuild."
Officials confirmed there were no injuries, including the bar's mascot Emmitt the donkey is totally safe.
The bar has been in operation since 1999, owned by Michael Ballard. It includes musical stages, rental cabins and zip lines. The tavern was also the site of a reality TV show 'Full Throttle Saloon' that ran five years.
Authorities are investigating the cause of fire.
