Mission Creek Mennonite Church Building Burns After Conversion from Former Mavericks Saloon

The former Mavericks Saloon, now the Mission Creek Mennonite Church, suffered a fire on Saturday, October 24. The building, located at 29410 Beroun Crossing Rd., Pine City, was fully engulfed when emergency services arrived at 9:37 p.m. Flames were reported shooting from the roof, with a propane tank approximately 15 feet from the east side of the structure. Pine City and Hinckley fire departments, along with Brook Park Fire Department, responded to the scene for mutual aid.

The property, purchased by Badlands Entertainment LLC in 2020 for $420,000, was sold to the Mission Creek Mennonite Church for $369,500 on June 8, 2026. The church, which recently relocated to the area from out-of-state, had been using the building as their congregation’s home for the past few months. Matthew Witmer, a deacon and treasurer of the church, stated that the fire was believed to have originated from an electrical panel box.

The building is considered a total loss, though some materials from the Sunday School rooms were salvaged. The church is currently evaluating options for a new location, with hopes of temporarily using a town hall in Chengwatana Township. Witmer noted that the congregation does not have insurance on the property and is uncertain whether they will attempt to rebuild or seek a new site.

“We appreciate the community support and interest; it has been overwhelming,” Witmer said. “We have sister communities that will help us with the Lord’s help. We will get things cleaned up as soon as we can and evaluate if this is where we will rebuild. We know the Lord is in control and will give us the grace to get through this.”

No one was present at the building during the fire, and no injuries were reported. The incident has left the congregation and community in mourning, with plans for the future still uncertain.

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