A fire broke out overnight and consumed the Mining Camp Restaurant in Apache Junction.

The restaurant is a total loss, with an estimated value up to $950,000, according to Assistant Fire Chief Richard Ochs with the Superstition Fire & Medical District.

The fire’s cause had not been determined as of Tuesday morning, but Ochs said it doesn’t appear to be suspicious.

A neighbor reported the fire at 3:03 a.m. The owners of the Mining Camp Restaurant, who live on the property, were awakened when the first firetruck arrived, Ochs said.

Crews had difficulty entering the structure, as the doors were particularly secure, Ochs said. By the time they had access, “they realize there’s heat and smoke all the way to the floor and there was no way to go inside,” he said.

Fire crews spent hours dousing the flames.

Open since 1961, the restaurant was known for its hearty western fare. With the looming Superstition Mountains as its backdrop, the restaurant was often sought out as a tourist destination.

“People that are connected to the community have a longstanding memory of the restaurant and, from my perspective, even a lot of out-of-town guests,” Ochs said. “For years, working as a firefighter around town, it was common for people to stop and ask directions to it.”

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