#unique since 1892

About us

Berghotel Oeschinensee - a family business since 1892

Guests from all over the world were already aware of the beauty of Lake Oeschinen above Kandersteg. This was one of the reasons why David Wandfluh decided to build an inn at Oeschinensee in 1890. Great-great-grandfather Wandfluh was a simple farmer from Kandergrund at the time. In addition to gastronomy, our family has also upheld the tradition of "farming". Today, the mountain hotel is run by the fifth generation and is completely family-owned. Unfortunately, businesses with a long-standing tradition are becoming increasingly rare - so we are particularly proud to stand for tradition, quality and humanity.

Farm

Sheep have long been our passion and at the same time our family meditation. The farm has around 30 animals. The sheep spend the summer on the steep slopes below the gondola lift. We only use fodder that grows in our own meadows and that we bring in ourselves in the summer. We process and prepare the lamb meat ourselves in our own kitchen. The hard but beautiful work gives us pleasure and we are very proud of our lamb products. We sell the sheepskins and lambskins in our store at Oeschinensee. The farm has been run jointly with the Grossen family from Reginahof in Kandersteg since 2023 and has around 40 cows, cattle and sheep.

Berghotel Oeschinensee - History

Today
The number of visitors is steadily increasing, and there are also repeated departures. The team shrinks from 40 to 23 employees within 2 months. However, the average age of our team is still 16 years. A request for the extension of the much too small toilet facilities was rejected by the canton under flimsy arguments. The business was converted to self-service within 6 weeks in order to be able to operate at all. The hotel remains closed for overnight stays in summer 23.
Logistk
An Iveco delivery truck with lifting platform was purchased. The complete logistics are now no longer handled via the private road but via the gondola lift. Regular official closures of the access road from Kandersteg due to natural hazards from the Spitzten Stei make planning impossible. Throughout the entire operation, massive investments are made in making the work of the team easier (ergonomics). In addition, compactors are purchased for the waste from the entire mountain. The disposal to the waste incineration plant in Thun is done by the company itself.
Pandemic
The uncertain situation around the "Spitze Stei" and Corona moved us to new ideas. Together with our team of 30, we are constantly working on new ideas. This is how our offer "Fondue2Go" or the "Oeschi-Glace" came into being.
Food Trucks & Bergstübli
The first food truck was made by the carpenter according to our specifications. A year later, the second followed. The Bergstübli at the top station was taken over. The official closure with a lead time of 24 hours is always in the back of our minds. The mobile food trucks and the Bergstübli can therefore offer the employees and the guests when the Berghotel am See has to be closed.
Return
David jun. (Christoph's older brother) comes back home after his wandering years. He supports us energetically since then and is active in the kitchen.
5th generation
Christoph (hotelier) & Lea (PR specialist) Wandfluh take over the business in the 5th generation. Together with their two children, the family spends the summer at Oeschinensee. The team comprises around 15 employees. The first floor is completely renovated. Cold storage rooms were extended in 2015.
Fiber optics & sewerage
All businesses on the mountain will be connected to the Kandersteg sewage system. In addition, a fiber optic cable is being laid to Oeschinensee . A new supply line is dug for the drinking water supply to the mountain hotel. The municipality is contributing 0 francs.
Horse-drawn carriage
More and more older guests found the walk from the lake back to the mountain station too long. Heart attacks were the result. From 2003 to 2006, a horse-drawn carriage therefore transported mainly older guests from the mountain station to Oeschinensee. The work was too strenuous for the horses, so from 2007 an electric vehicle was used (the first prototype was a flop).
4th generation
David & Susanna Wandfluh take over the family business and continue it in the 4th generation. In the next 30 years the house was completely renovated and completely refurbished. The kitchen was completely expanded, the cooling systems were extended, all rooms were renovated and a solar system was installed already in the early 90s.
Construction of the chairlift
David Wandfluh builds the chairlift from Kandersteg to Oeschinen. The construction of a chairlift was a pioneering achievement at the time - the construction of a cableway through the air was not granted much success. At that time, funiculars on rails were more in vogue than a cable car in the air.
1945
During the war, international tourism collapsed completely. It was mainly Swiss guests and many school trips that visited Oeschinensee. Menu of the day: Soup with sausage, CHF 2 - one sausage for two children.
Extension 1912
The mountain hotel was generously extended. The current floor plan corresponds for the most part. Among other things, an open "drinking hall" was built. The "donkey stable" is still preserved today.
Foundation 1892
David Wandfluh builds the mountain hotel at Oeschinensee as a small guesthouse with 10 rooms and a restaurant.
2021
2021
2020
2019
2015
2012
2013
2003
1981
1949
Wartime
Extension
Construction of the mountain hotel

Berghotel Oeschinensee AG | 3718 Kandersteg | office@berghotel-oeschinensee.ch | +41 33 675 11 19