Simpsonville, Ky. – Camp Hi-Ho, an area Kentucky summer camp for children, said it will “rebuild and repair” after a portion of the camp caught fire Nov. 27. Hi-Ho, owned by the family of actress Jennifer Lawrence, lost the main barn which served as a sanctuary for a number of activities and attractions the family put on for kids every summer.

In an email sent to parents of past campers, owner and director of Hi-Ho, Blaine Lawrence, said the barn included an office space, a separate apartment the family often used, stalls for their horses, the indoor riding area for kids, an indoor rock wall, a native wildlife display center, an arts and crafts pavilion, a garage loaded with farm equipment and a new nurse station.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we confirm the news that we lost our barn last night in a horrible fire,” the camp posted on its Facebook page. “We are deeply thankful that no people or animals were hurt, but we are still mourning the loss of years of hard work and memories that occurred in these walls. Words cannot describe the pain we are in, but we are so incredibly grateful for the Simpsonville Fire Department and all the other fire fighters who responded to our emergency. You are true heroes. We are also so grateful for the countless members of our community who have reached out to support us during this time. Your love and kindness mean the world to us. God’s goodness and protection is evident in this situation already, and our hope remains steadfast in Him, knowing that He is with us and in control of the steps ahead. We know Camp Hi-Ho is a special place to so many, and we plan to rebuild and repair so that we can move forward with a safe and joyful camp experience this summer.”

Mother Karen Lawrence told the Louisville Courier-Journal in 2011 that she created and ran the camp for more than 20 years before she took her then-14-year-old daughter Jennifer on a trip to New York in 2005 which launched her acting career.

Approximately 30 firefighters and a half-dozen trucks fought the blaze, which was called in about 9 p.m. ET. Camp Hi-Ho has been in operation for 34 years and remained open this summer during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering six sessions of groups of 10 campers, aged 4 to 12.

According to local TV station WDRB, a woman and “some small pets” were able to escape unharmed. The cause of the fire was under investigation.