The Hendrix Park Gymnasium in Bryan County, Georgia, has officially reopened nearly four years after an EF-4 tornado wreaked havoc across North Bryan County.

The 2022 tornado inflicted approximately $30 million in damage, marking the largest insurance claim in the state’s history, according to County Commission Chairman Carter Infinger. “The tornado struck in the evening and was utterly devastating for the northern community,” Infinger recalled. “The gym was completely destroyed, fields were ravaged, and homes along its path suffered severe damage.”

Due to the nature of this insurance-funded reconstruction project, the upgrades to the gym were somewhat limited, a Bryan County spokesperson explained.

The upgrades

The newly rebuilt gym is slightly larger, adding about 20 square feet to the original facility. It now features bleacher seating for 194 spectators, two spacious offices, two storage areas, a multipurpose room, and a concessions space.

The new gym is about 20 square feet larger than the facility before the storm. The gym includes bleacher seating for 194 people, two large offices, two storage rooms, one multipurpose room and one concessions room.

The facility features one main court, which can be divided into two smaller practice courts. The court can also be configured for volleyball.

Notable upgrades include new side entrances that face the parking area, improving accessibility and safety, as well as an administration area constructed primarily of block walls to enhance durability during high winds and severe weather. Additionally, a spokesperson said nearly $100,000 was invested in upgraded window tinting to improve energy efficiency and reduce sun infiltration during games.

“It’s a great facility, and it’s going to serve North Bryan County for years and years to come,” Infinger said. “It took some time to do. I know there was some frustration with that, but I think at the end of the day, it was done, and it was done right.”