The exact cause has not been publicly finalized.

FORT WORTH, Texas — It’s a moment many in downtown Fort Worth still replay in their minds.

“Shock and awe,” said Tim Ballard, owner of Cowtown Segway Adventures. “It was tough.”

On Jan. 8, 2024, an explosion tore through the Sandman Signature Hotel near West 7th Street, injuring 21 people and forcing nearby businesses to shut down for months.

First responders flooded the area that day. Firefighters, police officers and utility crews filled the street as debris littered the ground and parts of the building collapsed.

“I’ve never seen so many people with hard hats, and fire people and police,” said Ballard.

Even now, nearly two years later, the blast still feels close for those who were there.

“It was destructive,” said Lisa Jackson, owner of La’Creamian Ice Cream. “It looked like a war zone. I still say that.”


Ballard and Jackson, whose businesses sit directly across the street from the hotel, remember the confusion, the fear and the immediate concern for others.

“My first thought was, ‘Is everyone OK?’” Jackson said. “No one died, thank God.”

Fort Worth fire officials said at the time that while the explosion caused widespread damage and injured dozens, no fatalities were reported. Investigators believe gas played a role in the explosion, but Atmos Energy has said its pipelines were not involved, according to previous WFAA reporting.

The exact cause has not been publicly finalized.

In the days following the blast, more than half a dozen lawsuits were filed because of the injuries. Attorneys hired by those involved have since brought in private investigators, and the cases are still ongoing.

“When something shocks you like that, then all you can do is row,” said Ballard.

WFAA reached out to Northland Communications, the group representing the Sandman Signature Hotel. The company said it originally planned to reopen the hotel by the end of 2025, but due to delays, it now expects to reopen this summer.

For businesses along the block, Jan. 8 remains frozen in time.

“It’s been an adjustment. It certainly has,” said Ballard.

While the street has slowly come back to life, the memory of that morning hasn’t faded.

“All we can do is come to work and continue to make people happy,” said Ballard.