ALLENSPARK, Colo.—The fate of the St. Malo Retreat Center used by Pope John Paul II in 1993 is up in the air following a devastating fire nearly two years ago that heavily damaged the living quarters.
The Chapel on the Rock in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains was blessed by the pope and still gets a steady stream of visitors, but the retreat center living quarters behind the church has not been rebuilt and there are no firm plans to restore it, according to the Archdiocese of Denver that owns the Catholic spiritual center.
The fire left behind only the living quarters and a solitary stone chimney from the former St. John’s Lodge. The main steps that used to lead to the retreat center’s main lobby now lead to a small field, reseeded with grass, the Boulder Daily Camera reported Wednesday ().
Johnnie Davis, St. Malo’s caretaker and the only staff member remaining on the property, said he would love to see the complex rebuilt so that families and youth groups can once again use the pristine grounds to gain spiritual enlightenment and rejuvenation in Colorado’s high country.
The retreat, which was built in 1986, hosted up to 6,000 people a year.
“I have my hopes and prayers, and I know a lot of people would like to see it come back as a conference center and a youth center,” Davis said.
Davis said he understands that such a big decision can’t be made quickly.
“There’s a lot to a property like this. It takes a lot of time to replace it,” he said.
Authorities said the fire started in a fireplace in the retreat’s lounge, quickly setting the roof on fire and spreading throughout the building. Numerous firefighting agencies responded to the blaze, but it took the better part of the day to put it out. No injuries were reported.
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Information from: Daily Camera,
