NORTH BEND, Wis. – An afternoon grass fire whipped by strong winds destroyed the Black Pearl Lounge and the neighboring North Bend Canoe Rental. No one was injured, but the loss was crippling to the fragile economy of North Bend, population 400, on the Black River eight miles downstream from Melrose. The Black Pearl was once the Riverview supper club, a regional attraction high above a scenic river bend. It was being remodeled to reopen with the river panorama. Melrose Fire Chief Tim Kunes said crews were dispatched at 3:05 p.m. for the grass fire. When they arrived, the structure was gone. Flames were spreading to parked vehicles and nearing a large propane tank. Firefighter used 55,000 gallons of water. They were called back about 8:30 p.m. for hot spots. Kunes tentatively blamed the fire on a burn barrel and winds for starting the grass fire.
Riverview Inn. Although shuttered a couple years the once popular supper club had reopened as the Black Pearl Lounge and was being remodeled for dinner service. Image: Black River Falls Fire and Rescue