Hail Damages Buildings at Tower Grove Park

ST. LOUIS (KMOX)-While most of the St. Louis area escaped serious damage as yesterday’s storms roared through, the Palm House at south St. Louis’ Tower Grove Park was not so lucky.

Park Director John Karel tells KMOX that 26 panes of glass on the Palm House roof were either cracked or broken by hail. He says some of  the hail stones were larger than golf balls.

Karel watched the damage being done from the director’s residence behind the Palm House, “”I could hear a faint ‘pop’ as each pane broke. It was like watching some sort of newsreel, very strange. I felt helpless.”

Karel says damage to the greenhouse behind the Palm House and the Plant House, was even worse. It’s estimated 80 panes were broken there.

The damage comes before a busy weekend for the park and the Palm House. Karel says the house is scheduled to host five wedding events, including rehearsals, weddings and receptions.  Plus there’s the weekly Sunday brunch and Monday’s Memorial Day concert.

He says American Door, Glass and Mirror has made the Palm House a priority. Crews were at the park early Thursday morning. They will use plywood and plastic to make temporary repairs, then return next week to replace the glass.

Karel says they expect to have the preliminary repairs completed by noon Friday, so the weekend’s events can go on as scheduled.

He says a damage estimate has not been completed yet. The park does have insurance, but Karel says it has a “large deductible”.