The U.S. Army's Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, is marking its 20th anniversary. Hosting the first guests in September 2004, the $80 million resort draws service members from duty stations around Europe. (U.S. Army)
WIESBADEN, Germany — The U.S. Army’s Bavarian Alps resort hotel in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is undergoing a $30 million facelift in the midst of celebrating a milestone.
The renovations at Edelweiss Lodge and Resort, which marked its 20th anniversary in a celebration Wednesday, aim to improve dining, recreation and accommodations for Defense Department personnel and their families vacationing there.
“These investments will enable us to serve the next generation of service members with even greater dedication and comfort,” marketing manager Brad Hays said.
Zuggy’s Base Camp, a restaurant with a rustic hunting lodge theme, was the first Edelweiss facility to be spruced up. It was renovated in the spring, and the work wrapped up in July.
The newly designed entrance to Zuggy’s Base Camp at the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. The resort completed renovations to the restaurant in July. (Brad Hays/Edelweiss Lodge and Resort)
It now boasts a more modern and upscale interior along with an upgraded kitchen and expanded menu. Patrons can also take in drone footage of the surrounding landscape or watch sports on the new 30-foot-wide high-definition screen in the restaurant.
The 30-foot-wide screen at Zuggy's Base Camp displays drone footage of the landscape surrounding Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. The restaurant renovations are part of an approximately $30 million collection of projects at the Army-owned resort running through 2026. (Brad Hays/Edelweiss Lodge and Resort)
The resort’s other eateries, Market Station and Pullman Cafe, will see upgrades starting next spring, Hays said.
As of December, guests will be able to soak in the enhanced outdoor hot tub, which will feature new jets, lounge beds and an entryway “optimized for ultimate relaxation and comfort,” according to the resort’s website.
From furniture to fixtures, all 258 guest rooms are set for a makeover beginning late next year. That project will happen in phases to minimize disruption to guest services, Hays said.
Construction on an upgraded outdoor hot tub began in September at the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. The U.S. Army-owned resort will open the renovated area in December. (Brad Hays/Edelweiss Lodge and Resort)
Standard rooms with two queen beds at Edelweiss run between $120 and $220 per night, and the three price tiers are based on rank.
The price is $15 for each additional adult, with a maximum of four people in a room plus a crib. There is no additional charge for children.
The resort also has suites and offers various packages that include hotel accommodations, recreational activities and excursions. In addition to the luxury lodgings, there are cabins for rent and an on-site campground.
The U.S. Army's Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. A $30 million series of upgrades at the resort got underway this year. (Stars and Stripes)
Opened in September 2004, the $80 million Edelweiss consolidated various hotels and recreation areas used by service members in southern Germany dating back to the end of World War II.
Since then, the resort has accommodated approximately 3 million guests, Hays said, ranging from families desiring a destination vacation spot in Europe to service members seeking rest and relaxation during deployment to Middle East war zones.
Edelweiss is one of four Armed Forces Recreation Center resorts. The others are in Florida, Hawaii and South Korea.
The Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, celebrates 20 years of serving the military community this year. (Stars and Stripes)
On Wednesday, resort general manager Brian Borda said Edelweiss has been a cornerstone of U.S. Army Installation Management Command’s mission in Europe.
Brian Borda, general manager of Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, speaks at the U.S. Army-owned resort’s 20th anniversary celebration Oct. 30, 2024. (Brad Hays/Edelweiss Lodge and Resort)
“This commitment is our way of ensuring that Edelweiss Lodge and Resort remains not only a premier destination but a home away from home for those who serve,” Borda said.
