Celebrating 20 years
20 YEARS OF MEMORIES
The Edelweiss Lodge and Resort is approaching a significant milestone in our long history of providing hospitality to service members and their families – our 20th anniversary in 2024.
Since the day we opened our doors two decades ago, Edelweiss Lodge and Resort has had the privilege of welcoming over 2.5 million guests through our Resort. Each visit has been an opportunity for us to create lasting memories, and it warms our hearts to know that many of you have shared those moments with us and continue to do so. To see guests who once visited as children now working with us as young adults is a testament to the bonds we have built over the years.
At the heart of our mission is a deep commitment to serving the dedicated men and women of the United States Armed Forces, retirees, and their families. Your trust in us has been the driving force behind our success, and we are immensely proud to have been a part of your cherished moments.
The Edelweiss team is motivated and inspired by the wonderful experiences we’ve shared with you, and we are fully dedicated to continuing our long tradition of hospitality. As we stand on the cusp of our 20th anniversary, we are also excited to share that we have several significant projects in the works. Our goal is to enhance and expand services, ensuring quality, affordable accommodations that will carry our legacy into the next two decades.
Your choice in making Edelweiss Lodge and Resort your destination of choice for family vacations has been the cornerstone of our success, and we look forward to many more years of creating extraordinary moments with you. We invite you to join us in commemorating this special occasion throughout the year, as we look back on the memories we’ve created together and set our sights on the exciting future that lies ahead. Here’s to 20 years of cherished memories and the promise of many more to come!
From motion picture sets to celebrity visits, we have seen it all at Edelweiss Resort over the years. Take a look back from our origins to the beginning decisions to build the Resort.
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Brian Borda
General Manager
Thanks to our Sponsors Stars and Stripes and the University of Maryland Global Campus Europe for their support in developing our 20th anniversary book.
The foundations of the Armed Forces Recreation Center, Europe were laid in 1945, soon after the end of hostilities in Europe. As soon as the occupation began, Army Special Services officers wasted no time in getting the prewar tourist facilities back into operation. Virtually every hotel, from downtown Garmisch to the top of the Zugspitze, was put to use by occupation troops. The Americans “confiscated” all those facilities that had been used by the German Armed Forces or the Nazi Party during the war, and “requisitioned” those hotels in Garmisch-Partenkirchen which had been used as temporary military hospitals and convalescent centers. Golf, hunting, fishing, skiing and sailing awaited the war-weary soldiers. Soon troops from all over U.S. Forces Europe Command were flocking to southern Germany for rest and relaxation.
With the formal end of the US occupation of Germany, USAREUR began returning the hotels used by the Garmisch Recreation Area to private ownership. As late as June 1952, the Garmisch Recreation Area still included 12 hotels in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Grainau, and on both the Kreuzeck and Zugspitze, as well as the golf course and numerous ski slopes. Throughout the years, AFRC Europe included a number of facilites including, restaurants, horse stables, tennis courts and campgrounds.
In 1945, the foundation of Armed Forces Recreation Centers were laid. Following the capture of Berchtesgaden and Chiemsee, initiatives to reintroduce recreational activities in Bavaria for fatigued soldiers gained momentum. With offerings such as golf, hunting, skiing, and sailing, the area evolved into a haven of leisure for service members.
1953
To accommodate the demand, the opening of three recreation centers began in 1953. The General Patton, General Von Steuben and Green Arrow Inn with over 600 rooms.
1956
USAREUR re-evaluated the control of German hotels. The decision from the report was to return hotels like Roterhann and Reisersee facilities back to Garmisch.
1989
April 19, 1989 plans were finalized for the consolidation of recreation centers. The demolition of buildings on the Sheridan Kaserne began to make room for the new AFRC Resort.
2002:
Congress decided to consolidate the Chiemsee and Garmisch facilities. In 2002, ground-breaking begun on the new modern resort later to be called Edelweiss Lodge and Resort.
For generations this flower has been the inspiration for folklore, music and stories
depicting the themes of love and healing. The Edelweiss flower serves as a symbol of prestige throughout the Alps and is often proudly displayed on clothing, like a soldier may wear a medal of distinction. The flower is also revered for its medicinal healing abilities, symbolizing the role Edelweiss Lodge and Resort plays in providing rest and relaxation to service members and their families.
On a crisp spring morning, a young couple set out on a hike through the mountains of southern Germany. The young man spots the white flower with felt like petals on an exposed cliff. In order to pick the Edelweiss, he ignores his own safety to prove his bravery. Reaching out on loose rock, he plucks the flower. He now has the “ultimate love charm” of the Alps to give to his lovely lady.
20 Year Book
