The cause of a fire that destroyed the 175-year-old Grand Pré Fruit Warehouse is unknown. The cause of a fire that destroyed the 175-year-old Grand Pré Fruit Warehouse is unknown. (CBC)

Fire has destroyed a historic warehouse in Grand Pré that was a local landmark and home to several businesses.

The 175-year-old Grand Pré Fruit Warehouse, known as the apple warehouse, housed a dance studio and carpentry shop, along with a number of old agricultural tools.

"We could build something new but it wouldn't be the same at all," said Diane Doran, who bought the building with her husband three years ago.

The fire started at about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Kevin White, deputy fire chief of the Wolfville fire department, said firefighters could see flames in the back of the building when they arrived.

There were 10 departments involved, mostly supplying water tankers to the remote site, White said.

But firefighters couldn't save the old building. They needed to bring in an excavator to make sure the blaze was out.

"It's flat," White said of the building. "We had an excavator started working about 5 a.m., 4 a.m., and ended up tearing it down to put it out."

It's not clear what caused the fire. The Fire Marshal's Office is investigating.