On a bustling corner in downtown Vail Village, the Sonnenalp Hotel is the picture of a cozy chalet, its oxblood red roof steeply pitched like a mountain ridgeline, an army of chimneys poking through across its length. But the One-MICHELIN-key resort is no Hallmark doppelgänger – this is an authentic Bavarian embassy with a view of the Rockies, kept through generations by a German family.
In the wintertime, there’s nowhere with more warmth to recover from a day in the mountains. Come summer, the Sonnenalp makes for a one-of-a-kind experience, too. Here are five things to know about this MICHELIN favorite.
The Sonnenalp has a tradition of luxury dating back more than a century
The original Sonnenalp Resort, set in the sweeping grassy Alps of southern Germany, was founded in 1919. The scope of the property back then: a small ranch house, a few acres, and eight cows. Eleonore and Adolf Faessler, the owners, and their descendants would steadily expand the hotel over the next century into the global landmark it is today, with over 100 rooms and a sprawling landscape of parks and pools.
The Vail property, purchased in 1979 and expanded and refurbished since with the same zeal that went into its Bavarian cousin, is today run by the fifth generation of the Faessler family.
From the plaids to the porcelain, the design is European through and through
Inside, the Sonnenalp is charming and rustic, with suites lined with wood and furnished with custom-made Bavarian pieces. Rosana Faessler handled the most recent renovation herself, picking out tartan prints and patterns, like the old family design on the teacups. At the Swiss Chalet restaurant, where fondue tops the menu, folk motifs are carved into the banister. In the plush library, floral sconces – and a roaring fire – set a glow.
Guided outings on offer open the door to a classic Colorado summer
In-house tour guides and an activity coordinator know just the right routes to take guests on for the wildflower blooms that blanket this part of the state come July. The Berry Picker trail is a popular option for a challenging hike up Vail Mountain, crowded with purple lupines and aspen trees. Specially planned excursions for kids include stops at boulders and creeks and complimentary use of a Polaroid camera to record it all.
The bacon is so good guests order it to their homes
The breakfast buffet at Ludwig’s, one of the resort’s four restaurants, is mammoth: eggs, empanadas, biscuits, and blintzes crowd an island counter each morning with a view of Gore Creek. But the bacon here is the star. From Brunson Meat Co. in Denver, the strips are double smoked over applewood chips and served heaping. They so stick in the minds of some guests that Ludwig’s has shipped out orders for an at-home treat, the hotel says.
Golf’s included right up against the mountains
Guests of the hotel have access to preferred tee times at the Sonnenalp Club, an 18-hole course a 20-minute drive down-valley from Vail Village. The course, open from April to October, runs right up against the mountains and has an equally vertiginous terrain with gulches and rises that pose a nice challenge. For the non-golfers in the family, the property also has a fitness center, spa, pickleball, tennis, and a pool.
All images courtesy of Sonnenalp Hotel
