The snowsports community was being urged to come out in support of Glencoe today after a fire ripped through the resort’s main building on Christmas Day.
Operators were forced to keep the ski centre closed yesterday and miss out on the usual Boxing Day rush, but officials are planning to open the centre today.
The scale of the destruction to the fire-ravaged building was shown in pictures yesterday, including burned-out walls, scorched pool tables and destroyed furniture.
Communication with the resort has been destroyed, but half of the ski hire is still intact and, while the base station resort has been gutted, the cafe is still in operation.
Offers of support have poured in from customers and other ski resorts, but manager Andy Meldrum said the best way to respond to the crisis was for the public to come and use the slopes once they have re-opened.
The Lecht and Cairngorm Mountain posted messages of support to Glencoe on social media and there have been plenty of other calls to back the struggling facility.
Mr Meldrum, who was attempting to count the cost of the damage, said: “Weather permitting, we will be open. The weather for the next two or three days doesn’t look particularly good. We are relying on the chair lift.
“We are waiting for the insurers to wake up after the Christmas break. We are just starting to get things together for getting loss adjusters to come and look at the damage.
“We can work around the building. Our accommodation is back up and running and the cafe on the hill is open.
“Half of our ski hire was destroyed, but half was in a separate building so we can still provide ski hire.
“The only thing we are missing is the cafe at the bottom.
“We are not doing a very good job at the moment of communicating with the public because our communication including phone lines and internet has been destroyed. We hope to get that sorted out over the next few days.
“The whole of the skiing community has been great and our customers have been great offering support. It is in the hands of the professionals now to assess the building.
“But the best thing people can do to help is come and support us. Let’s get money coming through the tills.”
At its height, eight fire crews attended the blaze, travelling from as far afield as Lochgelly in Fife. They also came from Appin, Cambrae, Oban, Fort William, Kinlochleven and Bridge of Orchy.
Their initial efforts were hampered by difficulties finding water, but crews turned to nearby rivers to take on supplies.
