Exactly four months to the day after a tornado struck the Little Sioux Boy Scout Camp in southwest Iowa killing four scouts and destroying the ranger's house, the home has been rebuilt and Saturday the family returned.
"It's pretty hard for us,” said Tammy Dean, the ranger’s wife. “We've been displaced, you know. We just can't wait to get in and start our lives again."
The Deans weren't the only ones returning to the scout ranch. “Ben loved it here so we do too,” said Arnell Patrzilka. She and husband Bryan lost their son Ben on the night of June 11th.
"Being at the camp feels good," said Arnell. "It's nice to see new starts here because it's about healing and it's time to start healing."
The ranger’s home includes a reinforced storm shelter. The new digs have the scouts from Troop 558 out of Missouri Valley singing high praises. "I'm amazed that it was done in 27 days," said one scout.
"I've never seen a house done quicker," said another.
The house was built to withstand wind speeds up to 250 mph. The new construction doesn't end with the home. There will also be a new welcome center that will house the medical and ranger office. It will be one of six new, major projects to be built at the camp, set to reopen May 2, 2009.
The camp remains closed to weekend camping until further notice.