(Monkey Top Saloon on Facebook)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

"we will rebuild"

Bentley’s Monkey Top Saloon closes after large fire on Monday

Jan 16, 2024 | 1:17 PM

A large fire Tuesday morning has left the well-renowned Monkey Top Saloon in Bentley severely damaged.

In a Facebook post, the owners stated that while the establishment will be closed until further notice, “We will rebuild and be back to the Monkey Top we all know and love.”

(Monkey Top Saloon on Facebook)

Marc Fortais, Town CAO, says emergency crews remain on scene as of lunchtime Tuesday because the fire is still burning. Some portions of the building have had to be torn down in order to expose the flames.

“Crews responded around 1:30 a.m. this morning. There was nobody in the building, there are no injuries and the fire is under control. It remains under investigation,” says Fortais.

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“The Monkey Top brings all kinds of tourism activity here and supports the business community. These types of buildings are very important to the community, so the sentiment in Bentley today is a sad one for sure.”

Fortais harkens back to a fire that burned down a historic grain elevator just 13 months ago.

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• Fire destroys Bentley grain elevator

In recent years, the Town has partnered with a mobile app called On This Spot, which tells the history of select landmarks.

According to the app, where Monkey Top Saloon stands was the original site of Putland & Thorp Trading Company, which was destroyed by fire in 1919. The then owners were Archie Putland and Frank Thorp, the latter of whom was the first mayor of Bentley in 1915. After the fire, it was replaced by the Bentley Co-Operative, and was sold to Wm. A. Holmes in 1933, going on to operate as Bentley Mercantile.

It’d eventually become home to Monkey Top Saloon.

“Bentley is a resilient town. There’s a lot of positivity happening here,” he says. “We’ve recently found out a new grocery store is coming, we have the Medicine Lodge Ski Hill and the ski club, and the Monkey Top owner is dedicated to this community and has indicated he wants to rebuild.”

Fortais pays special thanks to emergency responders from Bentley, but also Blackfalds, Lacombe and Eckville.

He says it appears there’s no damage to neighbouring buildings at this time, which include a Canada Post office.