Do you know what the best thing about my age is? I see little ones grow into big ones and little girls grow into mountaineers. And then: how lads fall in love with mountaineers and the next generation of little ones and lads is born.
I, the old farm, am something of a family chronicler, a silent observer of entire generations. By that I mean not only my farmhands, but also you, dear guests. Elisabeth recently mentioned that some family names have been appearing in my guest book for thirty years. Thirty years is a long time, at least in human terms. That's why my wooden heart beats even faster when you decide to come back again and again. Andrea asked some of you to write to us and tell us exactly why you keep coming back to the Schnalstal Valley. Here are a few unabridged, unvarnished and all the more touching answers:
Ingrid and Wilhelm Lietz:
‘Since the summer of 1997, we have witnessed and followed the development of the Oberraindlhof. From an inn with a declining agricultural business to a smart hotel that easily stands up to comparison, all in breathtaking surroundings. Today, we thoroughly enjoy the comfort of the hotel, the excellent service, the outstanding cuisine and the well-chosen drinks. An ideal place to slow down! But ultimately, that's not the main reason why we've been coming to you for almost thirty years, sometimes even several times a year. It's you, the people we've got to know, with whom we've shared many experiences, who have become friends. Today, the Oberraindlhof is part of our family, part of our life.’
Katharina, Thomas & Maximilian Kunz:
‘We always enjoy coming back to the Oberraindlhof because the entire Oberraindlhof team makes us feel at home from the moment we arrive: hospitality and relaxation are top priorities here. The old farmhouse with its pine scent creates a cosy atmosphere, and the wellness experience and cuisine are also outstanding – as a guest, you can really unwind and slow down.’
Katja, Tilman and Emilian Knapp:
‘The Oberraindlhof is our personal energy charging station: one with a huge soul.🥰 Once in winter, once in summer, and we get through the year just fine.’
Marita and Heinrich Hackenberg:
‘It's impossible to explain in two sentences why we've been to your place so many times. I'll try to summarise it briefly: On 25 September 1973, I was a student and went to Mitterkaser in Pfossental with four friends (two women and two men). There we got caught in a snowstorm on the way up to the Stettiner Hut, spent the night there and, the next morning, with the snow still falling and visibility poor, somehow made it back to the Mitterkaser, completely exhausted.
30 years later, in 2003, I wanted to go back to the Pfossental valley and show Marita the way. We hadn't booked anything in advance because we wanted to go to Tramin and only stay in the Schnalstal valley for one or two nights. All the hotels and guesthouses were fully booked at the time. But... Elisabeth from the Oberraindlhof made some phone calls and found us a single room in Kurzras ☺️. We thought that was so great that we decided to book a room at the Oberraindlhof.
We managed to do that in 2007 and we even decided to get married there, which we did on 28 December 2007. We felt so at home there that we returned the following year, and again the year after that, sometimes even twice a year, so that by 2025 we had been there 20 times and had brought lots of friends and family with us. We are still planning for this year, because we now have five grandchildren and are therefore in high demand.’
I'm sure you also have a favourite story with me as the backdrop. Or in the leading role? Let me know, my courtiers read every message aloud to me!
Yours sincerely, Oberraindlhof
