The owner of the Hitching Post in Mentone speaks out after a devastating fire

MENTONE, Ala (WHNT) — Fire can destroy a building, but it cannot take away a dream. And the dream of recreating The Hitching Post’s legacy in Mentone still holds.

“It was kind of a gathering place for the community and when I first bought it, my vision was to recreate it as it once was,” said Jerry Clifton, owner of The Hitching Post. .

What was a century-old landmark is now cinder, debris and rubble.

The Mentone Hitching Post was engulfed in flames on February 2, leaving the structure essentially destroyed amid a major renovation.

Hours before the fire started, there were people inside working on these renovations.

“We had friends there on Thursday afternoon who were working because there would actually be people moving in [and] set things up,” Clifton said. “The plan was to have things in service in a few weeks.”

Days later, smoke still lingers in the air and many are still mourning the loss of the iconic building.

“My main concern is that it was lost for the city,” he added. “I know how much they loved this structure and I feel more hurt for the citizens than what happened to me as the owner of the building.”

Firefighters are still investigating the cause of the fire.