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Grindstaff: 'I won't get one dime of insurance'

Published January 11th, 2009 | 7 Comments

Fire officials have confirmed that lightning started the fire Saturday night at the house of Steve and Ashley Grindstaff Photo by Dave Boyd.

ELIZABETHTON — Steve and Ashley Grindstaff were both philosophical and practical on the day after a fire caused heavy damage to their $28.5 million home on Boone Lake on Saturday evening — a home on which they had no insurance.

“Self insured,” Steve said. “I won’t get one dime of insurance ... I guess this is a case of thinking it will never happen to me.

“This house is under construction right now.” He said they will move back in as quickly as they can.

In building a fabulous home, Steve said he built it with only the best materials and wiring and all the latest safety equipment.

Steve said a rare January bolt of lightning was the culprit. Fire officials have confirmed that it was lightning. The only things he didn’t take into consideration when building the home were the copper beams in the turret of the signature tower of the house. Copper is one of nature’s best conductors of electricity. When lightning hit that copper beam, it efficiently conducted the super hot bolt throughout the top floor of the house, spreading fire and destruction. The power of the lightning bolt can still be seen in the jagged hole left in the tower.

The bolt also followed the plumbing, even striking the water main and sending water gushing several feet high in the yard.

Twice he had almost sold his lakefront home. The latest sale was supposed to be closed this Thursday, Ashley said. Steve quickly kept her from saying more. He said the deal had been confidential and he could not reveal the prospective buyer.

The example they are demonstrating in their latest trial is to not give up when adversity strikes, to recover, keep going and rebuild what was lost.

Just hours after the fire, the couple was clearly in charge of the scene as contractors and workers scurried about the estate, preparing to begin work to restore the house. Ashley met with cleaners while Steve discussed details with construction, electrical and air-conditioning contractors.

Between their conferences with contractors, Steve sat for an interview on the wall of the huge ornate fountain that graces their circular front entrance. Ashley came over and sat next to Steve and placed her arms around him and hugged him.

“Life has its ups and downs,” Ashley said. “God has a plan for us and we just have to be patient and we will see what it will be,” she said as she sat in Steve’s lap and put her arms around him.

Steve said he and Ashley are used to being local celebrities and know very well their actions may have an impact on others.

“We try to be a good example to children and young adults. We try to live right and to be ethical and honest in our businesses,” Steve said.

Steve, Ashley and son Steven were not home at the time. They had gone to a restaurant to celebrate Ashley’s birthday.

The first people to discover the fire were their neighbors, Sherry and Mark Carrier. They rushed to the home but could not open the large iron gate at the front wall to the property. They began calling Steve on his cell phone to get the pass code.

“We started getting calls from numbers we weren’t familiar with at the restaurant,” Ashley said. “We got so many we decided we better answer.”

That was how they found out their house was on fire.

They gave the pass code and Ashley asked them to break out a window in the wing where her two dogs were and make sure they got out. Then they rushed from the restaurant.

They spent the rest of Saturday night watching the Johnson City firefighters battle the blaze. It was the first time Ashley had seen firefighters up close.

“I want to thank the firefighters, I just really appreciate them,” Ashley said. “I was in awe. They worked so hard and they put their lives on the line to save our house.”

The Grindstaffs are now determined that the efforts of the firefighters will not be in vain.

Steve had said last year he planned to return to his roots in Carter County, where he owns one of the few places in the country that has Chevrolet, Chrysler and Ford dealerships side by side.

After the fire, Steve seemed to have second thoughts about selling the home and what inspired him to build such a landmark on Boone Lake.

“One day I will be gone, the dealerships will be gone, but this house will still be here,” he said. He was very familiar with another such landmark, Biltmore in Asheville.

“My driver for many years grew up at Biltmore. We visited it many times,” Steve said. The inspiration for the design of the house came when he was on a tour in Europe. He saw a house in Spain that so touched his imagination that he copied it on Boone Lake.

That inspiration seems to have returned. Steve said he is determined to build the house as quickly as the economy and the current car market will allow.

“I will rebuild it if it is God’s will,” he said.

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I'm really sorry for anyone rich or poor loosing anything to a fire cause some things you cant replace, even with money, however, this should be a lesson...noone is too rich for God! Not that God did this but if it was lightning and God controls the weather then Steve, buddy, I think you were sent a message! Are you listening? I will pray for you guys!

a b | 1/14/2009 - 5:36 PM - ( Comment

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You play you pay! Then he wonders why his house was struck by lightening. No need to judge him now he will have to answer to everything in the end.

Diane Jones | 1/13/2009 - 5:02 PM - ( Comment

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Comment to the Witch Doctor - Huh?

Ann Smith | 1/13/2009 - 3:40 PM - ( Comment

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"Ashley came over and sat next to Steve and placed her arms around him and hugged him." And "she said as she sat in Steve’s lap and put her arms around him."

Seriously, that kind of detail could've been eliminated. I know age is just a number, but dang, he's old enough to be her grandfather- I really didn't need that mental image.

Ashlee Morgan | 1/13/2009 - 12:36 PM - ( Comment

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Gag me.

Danni Uhelski | 1/12/2009 - 12:56 AM - ( Comment

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Your one sick puppy, bones.

john davis | 1/11/2009 - 11:19 PM - ( Comment

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Haha...Kudos Doc.

Eric Taylor | 1/11/2009 - 9:52 PM - ( Comment

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