Storm rips through family-run charity motel in Anton

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that the damage was possibly caused by a tornado. The National Weather Service will confirm if a tornado hit the area.

ANTON, Colo. (KDVR) — About an hour and a half east of Denver, neighbors in the Washington County community of Anton are cleaning up the damage left behind after a possible tornado, rain and strong winds ripped through their area just days ago.

The possible tornado was spotted by multiple storm chasers.

“I mean, we’ve been here for nine years and this is common, the storms, but not like this magnitude,” Stephanie Skubal said.

She and her husband Fred recounted the moments the weather came in.

“Just watched, then all of a sudden — boom — and our glass shattered right above us,” Stephanie said. “It sounded so forceful, you know. We saw flying debris out of the window.”

The strong winds ripped the roof off the family’s motel, blowing it nearly 200 feet behind it.

“Kind of went up like a kite,” Fred said.

Family motel serves people in need

This was not only a place the couple called home. It was also a place with 10 rooms that helped provide shelter to people in need in the community.

“We’re there to provide a warm meal, structure, some animals to get your mind straight,” Stephanie said. “They wanted more than just a place to stay — they wanted family. We did that for nine years and brought people in left and right. It just brings about so much joy, just thinking about all those years.”

The couple had plans to turn the motel into a nonprofit after losing their insurance in 2020, but now those plans are on hold. They say they have used personal resources to keep the motel open to the community, but the damage is pushing their limits.

They want to continue the missionary work they do, but now they have to start the process of rebuilding.

Meanwhile, the family said they have had a lot of support from people in the community, but they understand it will take a lot to rebuild. A GoFundMe has been set up to help with that.

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