PETERSBURG, W.Va. -- A pair of fires late Tuesday and early Wednesday that destroyed the Smoke Hole Caverns gift shop and restaurant were deliberately set, according to a published report.

Volunteer firemen from Petersburg and surrounding communities extinguished a fire that heavily damaged the 6,000 square foot building shortly before midnight on Tuesday. But they were called back to the scene about 4 a.m. on Wednesday when the remnants of the building caught fire again.

Investigators from the State Fire Marshal's Office looked into the blazes, and the Cumberland (Md.) Times-News reported on Thursday that the fires had been determined to be acts of arson.

Operators of the tourist attraction billed the gift shop, which carried sporting goods, western wear and souvenir items, as the biggest gift shop in West Virginia. In addition to destroying the shop and restaurant, the fire demolished three second-floor rental units, but did not damage an adjacent motel.

The motel and cavern tour operations remain open.

Smoke Hole Caverns co-owner Jerry Hedrick was sentenced in October to a 2- to 10-year sentence for two felony counts of sexual assault of a former female employee.

The popular tourist attraction is located on W.Va. 55 between Petersburg and Seneca Rocks.

PETERSBURG, W.Va. -- A pair of fires late Tuesday and early Wednesday that destroyed the Smoke Hole Caverns gift shop and restaurant were deliberately set, according to a published report.

Volunteer firemen from Petersburg and surrounding communities extinguished a fire that heavily damaged the 6,000 square foot building shortly before midnight on Tuesday. But they were called back to the scene about 4 a.m. on Wednesday when the remnants of the building caught fire again.

Investigators from the State Fire Marshal's Office looked into the blazes, and the Cumberland (Md.) Times-News reported on Thursday that the fires had been determined to be acts of arson.

Operators of the tourist attraction billed the gift shop, which carried sporting goods, western wear and souvenir items, as the biggest gift shop in West Virginia. In addition to destroying the shop and restaurant, the fire demolished three second-floor rental units, but did not damage an adjacent motel.

The motel and cavern tour operations remain open.

Smoke Hole Caverns co-owner Jerry Hedrick was sentenced in October to a 2- to 10-year sentence for two felony counts of sexual assault of a former female employee.

The popular tourist attraction is located on W.Va. 55 between Petersburg and Seneca Rocks.