Charred remains are all that's left of the iconic Buffalo Chip Saloon and Steakhouse in Cave Creek.
"When we came, we noticed smoke," said the owner of Buffalo Chip Larry Wendt.
Wendt and an employee were the first to spot the fire. The Rural Metro Fire Department extinguished the blaze, and then a second, more costly fire was sparked.
"Some way, it had spread into the attic and it took our entire building down," said Wendt.
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Flames left almost nothing and investigators are still trying to determine how started the fire
"They came and found that someone had lit the toilet paper rolls in the women's restroom on fire with a cigarette or matches," said Wendt.
Built in 1951, the Buffalo Chip has deep roots in Cave Creek. They hosted Fourth of July festivities and served as the home base for die-hard Green Bay Packer fans. Many calling it the Lambeau of the West.
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"The Buffalo Chip will be back, and it will be back bigger and better and more customer friendly than it ever was," said Wendt.
Rebuilding will take time employees of the Buffalo Chip don't have; no saloon means no money.
"121 employees without an income source between now and Christmas. Kind of tough. Makes you wonder how people do something like this," said Wendt.
Wendt says the rodeo and barbecue buffet areas are still intact. He feels they'll be back in business to some extent in the next couple of weeks.
As for the main building, Wendt says they'll get it rebuilt as soon as humanly possible.
