I checked into the Peoria RI last night, and was surprised to see the Peoria Courtyard is completely gone...just a Courtyard sign, big cement slab and a pool (that was once indoors!). I knew there was that freak fire (lightning strike) awhile back, but I didnt know they ripped the entire hotel down! Kinda freaky as I had stayed there many times.

I was talking to the RI employees about it today, and they said they had to rip it all down do to water damage. Even though the fire was isolated to a small part of the 3rd floor, the fire department had so many hoses soaking the buidling, that the entire proprty was completely ruined. The plan is to totally re-build from scratch. The hotel was always full and so they are trying to get a zoning variance to allow a fourth floor, but the city is balking saying it's zoned residential (max 3 floors).

Though you might like to know if you frequent Peoria.