Tamworth accident

C-Bass · 03-21-2026, 07:04 PM

Hope all make out alive

https://www.wmur.com/article/nh-tamw...12026/70810893

WinterHarborGuy · 03-21-2026, 08:26 PM

Sounds like it might have been in their Sugar Shack. Lots being boiled today all over, and my guess is that a bunch of guests were in that part of the venue.

They aren’t know to be sturdy. Hope I’m wrong because the fire aspect is scary to factor in.

tis · 03-22-2026, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WinterHarborGuy

Sounds like it might have been in their Sugar Shack. Lots being boiled today all over, and my guess is that a bunch of guests were in that part of the venue.

They aren’t know to be sturdy. Hope I’m wrong because the fire aspect is scary to factor in.

It was a wedding with 145 people. I think 6 were transported, one by helicopter.

TomC · 03-22-2026, 05:40 AM

Sort of shocking that someone thought it was a good idea to jam 145 people into what looks like a ramshackle old building...

TiltonBB · 03-22-2026, 06:38 AM

From The Boston Herald

Six adults were rushed to area hospitals after a floor holding a wedding party of nearly 150 people collapsed at a venue in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

Fire and rescue personnel were dispatched to The Preserve at Chocorua in Tamworth, New Hampshire, at around 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Callers reported that the venue floor had collapsed into the basement and multiple people were trapped under beams and farming equipment at the venue.

“In a building known as the Sap House there was a partial floor collapse just at the start of the ceremony,” NH Fire Marshal Sean Toomey told NH television news outlet WMUR from the scene.

He added that it was a wedding ceremony and the bride and groom had just entered the building followed by portions of their wedding party when the floor gave way and around 70 people fell through.

Arriving firefighters found that venue staff already provided first aid to some injured guests and used ladders to help others who had fallen through the collapsed floor, according to the New Hampshire Office of the State Fire Marshal. Authorities say that six adults were transported to hospitals, with Toomey adding that one was flown by medical helicopter to Maine Medical Center. Four had since been released.

“Investigators with the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office have responded to the scene and are leading the investigation into the incident,” a release from that office states.

The initial theory in the investigation is that the venue building, which was identified as the Sap House, was over capacity. The Fire Marshal’s office says that 144 people were in the venue and about half of them fell through an approximately 20-foot square opening caused by the collapse.

The Preserve at Chocorua describes itself as “a beautiful estate nestled in the historic town of Tamworth, New Hampshire, perfect for leisurely retreats and memorable celebrations. A place for intimate wedding ceremonies, engaging community events, and most importantly a place that feels like ‘home’ when you arrive.”

The venue’s website says it comprises 26 acres of “untouched natural beauty” that includes four distinct event spaces and six guest facilities that can sleep 60.

The venue describes the Sap House as “A quintessential New England Maple Sugar shack with endless uses. Host an intimate ceremony, stage with stately furniture for a lounge feel, or host an indoor/outdoor cocktail hour. Custom uses for your event are endless.”

That event space listing does not mention a maximum number of guests, but is written in a way that suggests it is smaller than “The Barn,” which can accommodate more than 225 guests and boasts a dance floor. The remaining event spaces are the open-air “Ice Pavilion” built on the foundation of the old “ice house,” and another open-air space called the “Sperry Sailcloth Tent.”

Anyone with any information that can help the Fire Marshal investigation is asked to call the office at (603) 223-4289 or email [email protected].

The New Hampshire Fire Marshal said that half of a wedding party of 144 people fell when the floor of this wedding venue in the White Mountains of New Hampshire collapsed. (Courtesy/ NH Fire Marshal)

John Mercier · 03-22-2026, 09:32 AM

Should be an interesting insurance claim and a search for coverage going forward.

WinnisquamZ · 03-22-2026, 09:47 AM

I would think otherwise. Over capacity would nullify the ownerships insurance claims. Can see a boatload of lawsuits and possible bankruptcy in their future.

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Biggd · 03-22-2026, 07:37 PM

That barn didn't look safe enough for 20 people never mind 120!

WinnisquamZ · 03-23-2026, 04:36 PM

WMUR is reporting no permit for such a large gathering.

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Slickcraft · 03-23-2026, 06:06 PM

Link:

https://www.wmur.com/article/venue-p...32326/70824319

TomC · 03-23-2026, 06:08 PM

How can you run a wedding venue, or any sort of theatre, dance hall, auditorium without the proper occupancy permit(s)? It boggles the mind...

fatlazyless · 03-23-2026, 06:15 PM

So, how old is the Sap House building and does it have a foundation underneath it? It could be something like a 200-year old utility style building with a long history of use? Taking a close look at the floor boards from underneath, just in front of the parked tractor, what was needed there was a single 4"x4"x8' vertical support, price $10.18, wedged into the center, underneath, to support that old floor in the middle.

Yessuh ...... that would do it ..... ayuh!

Probably would be blocking the parked tractor, there, and possibly that's the reason why it, a 4"x4"x8' vertical support is not in place? For $10.18 it would have been money well spent.

....... just say'n.

Anyone here recall how the Village Kitchen in Moultonborough used to have a wicked bad sagging floor in the center of the room when you first walked into the restaurant, there?

WinnisquamZ · 03-23-2026, 06:33 PM

Can’t and won’t understand why a structural engineering study isn’t required on each and every building that hosts these events. Attended a wedding this past fall in Jackson NH. The old barn was shaking. Terrible feeling after hearing this

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WinterHarborGuy · 03-23-2026, 06:46 PM

So apparently the floor collapsed as the bride and groom walked in…so they didn’t get married. Now imagine all the other couples that had this venue lined up for their weddings this spring and summer… What a shame for all these people.

Biggd · 03-23-2026, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WinterHarborGuy

So apparently the floor collapsed as the bride and groom walked in…so they didn’t get married. Now imagine all the other couples that had this venue lined up for their weddings this spring and summer… What a shame for all these people.

All the other couples that had that venue booked are the lucky ones!

03-21-2026, 07:04 PM	#1
C-Bass Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 158 Thanks: 1 Thanked 35 Times in 18 Posts	Tamworth accident Hope all make out alive https://www.wmur.com/article/nh-tamw...12026/70810893

03-23-2026, 06:15 PM	#12
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 9,168 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 310 Thanked 1,103 Times in 812 Posts	....... just say'n. So, how old is the Sap House building and does it have a foundation underneath it? It could be something like a 200-year old utility style building with a long history of use? Taking a close look at the floor boards from underneath, just in front of the parked tractor, what was needed there was a single 4"x4"x8' vertical support, price $10.18, wedged into the center, underneath, to support that old floor in the middle. Yessuh ...... that would do it ..... ayuh! Probably would be blocking the parked tractor, there, and possibly that's the reason why it, a 4"x4"x8' vertical support is not in place? For $10.18 it would have been money well spent. ....... just say'n. Anyone here recall how the Village Kitchen in Moultonborough used to have a wicked bad sagging floor in the center of the room when you first walked into the restaurant, there? __________________ .... Banned for life from local thrift store! Last edited by fatlazyless; 03-23-2026 at 09:42 PM.

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03-21-2026, 08:26 PM	#2
WinterHarborGuy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 121 Thanks: 28 Thanked 61 Times in 38 Posts	Sounds like it might have been in their Sugar Shack. Lots being boiled today all over, and my guess is that a bunch of guests were in that part of the venue. They aren’t know to be sturdy. Hope I’m wrong because the fire aspect is scary to factor in.

03-22-2026, 05:40 AM	#4
TomC Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Lakes Region Posts: 816 Thanks: 42 Thanked 185 Times in 116 Posts	Sort of shocking that someone thought it was a good idea to jam 145 people into what looks like a ramshackle old building...

03-22-2026, 06:38 AM	#5
TiltonBB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gilford, NH and Florida Posts: 3,159 Thanks: 748 Thanked 2,277 Times in 986 Posts	From The Boston Herald Six adults were rushed to area hospitals after a floor holding a wedding party of nearly 150 people collapsed at a venue in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Fire and rescue personnel were dispatched to The Preserve at Chocorua in Tamworth, New Hampshire, at around 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Callers reported that the venue floor had collapsed into the basement and multiple people were trapped under beams and farming equipment at the venue. “In a building known as the Sap House there was a partial floor collapse just at the start of the ceremony,” NH Fire Marshal Sean Toomey told NH television news outlet WMUR from the scene. He added that it was a wedding ceremony and the bride and groom had just entered the building followed by portions of their wedding party when the floor gave way and around 70 people fell through. Arriving firefighters found that venue staff already provided first aid to some injured guests and used ladders to help others who had fallen through the collapsed floor, according to the New Hampshire Office of the State Fire Marshal. Authorities say that six adults were transported to hospitals, with Toomey adding that one was flown by medical helicopter to Maine Medical Center. Four had since been released. “Investigators with the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office have responded to the scene and are leading the investigation into the incident,” a release from that office states. The initial theory in the investigation is that the venue building, which was identified as the Sap House, was over capacity. The Fire Marshal’s office says that 144 people were in the venue and about half of them fell through an approximately 20-foot square opening caused by the collapse. The Preserve at Chocorua describes itself as “a beautiful estate nestled in the historic town of Tamworth, New Hampshire, perfect for leisurely retreats and memorable celebrations. A place for intimate wedding ceremonies, engaging community events, and most importantly a place that feels like ‘home’ when you arrive.” The venue’s website says it comprises 26 acres of “untouched natural beauty” that includes four distinct event spaces and six guest facilities that can sleep 60. The venue describes the Sap House as “A quintessential New England Maple Sugar shack with endless uses. Host an intimate ceremony, stage with stately furniture for a lounge feel, or host an indoor/outdoor cocktail hour. Custom uses for your event are endless.” That event space listing does not mention a maximum number of guests, but is written in a way that suggests it is smaller than “The Barn,” which can accommodate more than 225 guests and boasts a dance floor. The remaining event spaces are the open-air “Ice Pavilion” built on the foundation of the old “ice house,” and another open-air space called the “Sperry Sailcloth Tent.” Anyone with any information that can help the Fire Marshal investigation is asked to call the office at (603) 223-4289 or email [email protected]. The New Hampshire Fire Marshal said that half of a wedding party of 144 people fell when the floor of this wedding venue in the White Mountains of New Hampshire collapsed. (Courtesy/ NH Fire Marshal)

03-22-2026, 09:32 AM	#6
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,976 Thanks: 3 Thanked 678 Times in 561 Posts	Should be an interesting insurance claim and a search for coverage going forward.

03-22-2026, 09:47 AM	#7
WinnisquamZ Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 2,239 Thanks: 223 Thanked 705 Times in 473 Posts	I would think otherwise. Over capacity would nullify the ownerships insurance claims. Can see a boatload of lawsuits and possible bankruptcy in their future. Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

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03-22-2026, 07:37 PM	#8
Biggd Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Waltham Ma./Meredith NH Posts: 4,413 Thanks: 2,426 Thanked 1,269 Times in 812 Posts	That barn didn't look safe enough for 20 people never mind 120!

03-23-2026, 04:36 PM	#9
WinnisquamZ Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 2,239 Thanks: 223 Thanked 705 Times in 473 Posts	WMUR is reporting no permit for such a large gathering. Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

03-23-2026, 06:06 PM	#10
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,384 Thanks: 1,260 Thanked 2,148 Times in 983 Posts	Link: https://www.wmur.com/article/venue-p...32326/70824319

03-23-2026, 06:08 PM	#11
TomC Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Lakes Region Posts: 816 Thanks: 42 Thanked 185 Times in 116 Posts	How can you run a wedding venue, or any sort of theatre, dance hall, auditorium without the proper occupancy permit(s)? It boggles the mind...

03-23-2026, 06:33 PM	#13
WinnisquamZ Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 2,239 Thanks: 223 Thanked 705 Times in 473 Posts	Can’t and won’t understand why a structural engineering study isn’t required on each and every building that hosts these events. Attended a wedding this past fall in Jackson NH. The old barn was shaking. Terrible feeling after hearing this Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

03-23-2026, 06:46 PM	#14
WinterHarborGuy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 121 Thanks: 28 Thanked 61 Times in 38 Posts	So apparently the floor collapsed as the bride and groom walked in…so they didn’t get married. Now imagine all the other couples that had this venue lined up for their weddings this spring and summer… What a shame for all these people.