Zimmerman’s ninja fortress was almost destroyed in the Spokane storm

Zimmerman is known as the first mother to put the American ninja warrior under its spell. The ANW course she built in her backyard survived a shock on Sunday.

SPOKANE, Washington. – Spokane’s Sandy Zimmerman is known in Spokane as the first mom to ever meet the American ninja warrior’s buzzer.

This week she was shooting for the upcoming American Ninja Warrior season when she got a FaceTime that initially rocked her world.

“He’s like, ‘Well, I have something to tell you, but you probably won’t believe me, so I’ll just show you,'” Zimmerman recalled.

Spokane’s storm on Sunday nearly destroyed the famous ninja fortress in Sandy and Charlie Zimmerman’s back yard when a tree fell straight into it in their back yard.

“I was on my deck when it fell and I just look up at the trees and think, ‘This is moving.’ Within ten seconds I heard that crunch. It was loud. I was screaming a few things that I couldn’t say in the air, “said Charlie.

That same night, Sandy was supposed to face the American ninja warrior, so Charlie and his kids decided to keep the large immovable object in their backyard a secret.

The next morning Charlie had to deliver the news to his wife.

“I just started crying. This is our heart and soul that we poured into this fortress. We watch life change back here to see it devastating from a 50 foot spruce to be covered, “said Sandy.

Fortunately, the family quickly realized on Monday that it might be okay.

“We started crawling around underneath and I was like, ‘Oh my god.’ There were some parts that were still intact. It wasn’t completely torn off as you can see, “said Charlie, gesturing back towards the fortress.

Their hopes were confirmed when a logging crew came out a few days ago.

The trunk of the tree had largely missed the structure.

It is currently unsafe to use as there are still some cracks and bent polls, but all in all it could have been a lot worse.

“We will be able to save it, and not just save it, but make it better. I just feel like this is an issue in my life. Take something that happens, a tragedy, and make it something positive and good, “Sandy said.

Sandy survived a lot in her life, including sexual and physical abuse as a child.

Fortunately, she hardly goes alone this time.

“I have a feeling this is only happening here,” Sandy said of the support. “People want to know, ‘What can I do? What help do you need?’ People offer to bring dinner, people offer, “I have a ladder, I have a screwdriver, I have screws, what do you need?” That’s the amazing thing about the ninja community and Spokane too. “

Sandy hopes her yard will be semi-operational by May 3rd, but she knows it will take months to fully repair it.

She is hoping for a big reopening once the ninja fortress is ready to show people where her money and donations have been used.

Regardless of the state of the ninja fortress, her husband knows one thing whenever Sandy can be back out there training and teaching kids.

“She’ll be grinning ear to ear,” said Charlie.