STEINBOCK RESORTS
Decades of dedication and a passion for building led to various family projects throughout the years including the Enzian Inn, Enzian Falls Putting Course, and Posthotel Leavenworth, all of which remain family-run to this day.
FAMILY HISTORY
With German and Scandinavian ancestry, the Johnsons opened a bakery downtown Leavenworth in the 1940’s that supplied the area with over 2,000 loaves of bread a day. The town was small and struggling, and in an effort to boost tourism they began constructing various buildings throughout the area. In the 1960’s Bob Johnson along with son, Rob, advanced their carpentry skills while volunteering in constructing what would become known as Leavenworth Bavarian Village.
Decades of dedication and a passion for building led to various family projects throughout the years including the Enzian Inn, Enzian Falls Putting Course, and Posthotel Leavenworth, all of which remain family-run to this day.
The Johnsons have always felt very blessed to call Leavenworth home and continue to thank God for this incredible place. The beautiful scenery, the crisp mountain air, the wide variety of outdoor activities as well as the remarkable community of people who make up this little valley have led them to dream of sharing the Bavarian Village with others.
ENZIAN INN
In the early 1980s, Bob and Nola and their son, Rob and his wife, Nancy, sat around the kitchen table gathering ideas and drawing up plans for the Enzian Inn. It would be one of the first hotels in Leavenworth open year-round, and the Johnson’s hoped to encourage longer stays in Leavenworth, allowing guests to truly experience all the valley has to offer.
Construction of the Enzian Inn began in 1983 and in 1984 the doors opened on the first phase of the hotel. This father and son team built the Enzian Inn, and you will see, everywhere around you, evidence of their old-world craftsmanship and talent with wood.
With the help of their wives, Nola and Nancy Johnson, they added amenities and accommodations throughout the years and developed many traditions still carried on to this day, one of those being the Alp Horn serenade at breakfast each morning.
THE ALPHORN
One of the most distinctive traditions at the Enzian Inn is the alphorn performance that entertains guests at breakfast each morning.
In 1984, a local, but Swiss-born logger, Karl Wyssen, invited Bob to his home. After dinner that evening, the logger showed the elder Johnson how to play the traditional instrument from the mountains of Europe. Bob picked it up quickly and soon the alphorn became a regular part of daily events for guests at the Enzian Inn, each morning waking up the village with the low and mellow tones of the famous alphorn. That original alphorn, a gift of Mr. Wyssen and used at our hotel for years, can be seen above the entry of the main lobby.
The alphorn, similar to many other features of the Enzian in its uniqueness and authenticity, represents the rich traditions and European charm you will find throughout our hotel.
POSTHOTEL
Rob’s passion for building and craftsmanship formed a desire to create another unique project in Leavenworth. Enlisting the assistance of his daughter, Robin, to help with design and concept, they traveled throughout the Alps searching for traditional concepts to bring back to Leavenworth. With a new understanding of the health benefits that result from staying in wellness resorts they returned inspired to create a similar experience in Leavenworth.
Following two years of design and permitting, in 2010 a small team was formed, and construction began. The design-build project was a labor of love with details from iron work to wood carved ceilings almost entirely crafted on-site. Consistent with various projects throughout the years, members of the family pitched in to help when needed.
After more than eight years of construction a soft open was held for friends and family. Since then, we have continued to shape the Posthotel into what we pray is a place of rest and healing, both spiritually and physically.
STEINBOCK VILLAGE
They have since expanded their dream to a breathtaking place on Mountain Home overlooking the Leavenworth Valley. Their plans include a quaint downhill ski run and a scenic railroad with an antique German steam engine. Inspired by generational Alpine towns, Steinbock Village will embrace mountain living and encourage family traditions.
