GREENBO — The Jesse Stuart Lodge at Greenbo State Resort Park will re-open for business today, with a celebration from noon – 1 p.m.

The lodge, which is named for and celebrates the life of Greenup County poet and author Jesse Stuart, was damaged in an October 2015 electrical fire that kept the lodge closed last season. After extensive repairs, however, the lodge and restaurant will be open to guests and visitors this summer.

“There wasn’t any structural damage,” explained park manager Stephanie Poplin, “but there was a lot of smoke damage.” They also had to replace most of the electrical systems throughout the building.

The lodge has 36 rooms, many with personal balconies overlooking the lake, and features personal mementos and works by Stuart in their reading room, and inlaid game tables for chess, checkers, or scrabble scattered throughout. The lodge also houses the Angler’s Cove restaurant and a public pool.

While boating, fishing and diving in the lake, as well as campsites, were still available last season, the reopening of the lodge and restaurant is a boon to the community, with the services and jobs that it provides.

“We were able to keep the public pool open,” Poplin said, but both the lodge and the restaurant have been closed since the fire. The lodge has “around a dozen” full time employees, as well as seasonal employees, Poplin said, but they have added some new jobs by filling positions that were vacant before the fire.

The staff has also been getting comfortable with a new computer reservation system, Poplin said, but they are ready to open. “We’re already taking reservations,” Poplin said. “And the restaurant will be open for full business (today).”