California’s Silverthorn Pizza & Pub, A Restaurant Formerly Owned By Late Country Music Legend Merle Haggard, Destroyed In Fire
A beloved and historic California restaurant once owned by the late Merle Haggard was destroyed in a fire.
News station KRCR in Redding, California, published a report about the fire that broke out at the Silverthorn Resort at Lake Shasta. The resort first opened in 1853 and was owned by Merle in the 1980s.
Merle and his band, The Strangers, often performed at the resort’s Silverthorn Pizza & Pub restaurant. The “Mama Tried” singer also lived on a houseboat nearby, which is still at the resort today.
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KRCR reports that firefighters with Cal Fire’s Shasta-Trinity Unit were called to the resort around 10:30 PM on Sunday evening (July 7). Firefighters said the blaze spread from the pizza restaurant and burned surrounding vegetation.
The restaurant was completely destroyed by the fire. It also damaged two cabins nearby.
“It’s a tragedy. Where a national treasure played is no longer with us,” Shasta County resident Martin Buzas told KRCR.
Silverthorn Resort released a statement about the fire on Facebook, writing:
“We are deeply grateful for all the comments, messages, and prayers during this sad chapter in our resort’s history. While we are devastated by this incident, we are also incredibly thankful for the loyal friends and customers who have shown us support. We know that in time, we will rebuild, stronger and better.”
Merle’s Son Answers Questions About The Fire
Merle’s son, Noel Haggard, shared KRCR’s report about the fire on his Facebook page. He made it obvious how sad he was to hear the news about Silverthorn Pizza & Pub’s destruction.
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Noel answered people’s questions about the fire in the comments section of his post. When one person asked if the restaurant had burned down completely, Noel responded, “Yes.”
Another person asked if the fire was natural, or if it started within the restaurant. Noel answered, “News said a fire in the kitchen.”
It’s worth noting that KRCR reports the exact cause of the fire is unknown and still under investigation.
Noel also shared some photos in the comments, including one of Merle performing at the restaurant decades ago. Additionally, Noel shared an old video of The Strangers singing at the restaurant.
Martin Buzas told KRCR he’s “sure they’ll rebuild and it will be nice again.” Still, it’s sad to know that the Silverthorn Pizza & Pub of Merle’s era is now gone…