The Moon of Saucon Valley, formerly known as The Meadows, erupted in flames just hours after hosting an event. Owner Jay Trabulsi, who purchased the business about two and a half years ago, says he believes the blaze was a tragic accident.
"I don't know. The fire marshal told me like probably some kind of electrical problem or gas problem. Propane, you know, because we have propane," Trabulsi said.
Fire crews battled heavy flames throughout the building, according to officials.
A second-alarm response was requested, and multiple water tanker units were needed because of the limited hydrant supply in the area.
Saucon Fire Rescue led the initial response, with support from departments across Northampton, Lehigh and Bucks counties. Most crews cleared the scene by 8:51 a.m. Sunday. No injuries were reported.
By Sunday, residents gathered to see the aftermath and share memories of the venue.
"You're always just coming back here to have an event. It's family and friends. Everyone knows them, so it's just a place that everyone just always recommends for wedding receptions or any other events," said Dale Parker of Hellertown.
Other local venues have since offered to help couples and families with scheduled events. Among them is the Tavern Room operated by the Hellertown Historical Society.
"If they need a facility to use, ours is available. I can't guarantee the date they had, but we can certainly try to accommodate the best we can," said Donald Mills, the society's president.
Trabulsi said he plans to rebuild.
"I love this business. I love this area. Hellertown is a great area. People are so nice. Yeah, we're going to miss them for two years, or a year and a half, but eventually we will be back," he said.