"RIFFELALP HISTORY" Page 1,
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This
bucolic postcard shows the Riffelalp Grand Hotel in its glory days. |
Golden Age and wars
During the first World War, the Hotel Riffelalp was forced to cut back and
reduce its number of beds to 200. But the guests returned soof after the end of
the war, and the Hotel Riffelalp experienced a golden age at the end of the
1920s. Investments were made in amenities and sanitary installations.
"Prices were immaterial, Riffelalp was fashionable," recalls
Emeline Zschokke-Seiler, who took over the mountain hotel's management in 1932.
But once again, difficult war years followed, and it was only thanks to a loyal
band of Swiss guests that the Hotel Riffelalp was able to survive those times.
After the war, the hotel's reputation spread as far as the U.S.A., and even the
Rockefellers spent their holidays here and enjoyed the most stunning view of the
Matterhorn.
A sudden end
Just as plans were about to be implemented to prepare the Hotel Riffelalp for
winter sports by installing a new central heating sgystem, a fire broke out on
15 February 1961 at around 11 p.m. in the south wing of the empty hotel. The
fire brigade, arriving from Zermatt, was able to save the two chapels and the
annexes from the fire. The Hotel Riffelalp was consumed by flames. Only the
blackened foundation walls jutted into the blue Zermatt sky after this sad
event. Guests from across the world were horrified when they heard the bad news
and have lived off their memories of glittering balls, festive concerts, and
festive gatherings in the former Hotel Riffelalp ever since.
Source of history and photos: Riffelalp Resort
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