The von Trapp family, known for their fairytale portrayal in The Sound of Music, is also known for their lodgings-- particularly the Trapp Family Lodge.

The Villa Trapp Hotel, a new property in Salzburg, Austria, scheduled to open on July 25th, just happens to be the family’s original home. Two business partners decided to buy the villa and turn it into a hotel, capitalizing on the von Trapp name and of course The Sound of Music. The von Trapps lived there from 1923 to 1938. When the Nazis stormed Austria, the Baron and his family left for Italy, and the villa became the home of notorious SS chief Heinrich Himmler, and his butler. When the war ended, the property was returned to the family, who sold it to a peaceful Catholic missionary order.

The von Trapps have a storied U.S. history as well: After Maria and her clan fled from Salzburg, Austria in 1938, and prior to arriving in Stowe, Vermont, they'd travel the United States and eventually land a consecutive hotel residency in Philadelphia that provided boarding for everyone while they sang at night to guests. Times were quite tough with nine children, with their tenth, Johannes von Trapp on the way.

Trapp Family Lodge opened in 1950. It's a vast 2,200 acre resort with 96 rooms, 100 two-bedroom guest houses, and 16 luxurious villas. To develop the Lodge's sense of allure Maria led the family in singing performances for the guests every evening. To reinforce the von Trapp trademark hundreds of photographs of the family singing, working and farming were spread along the property’s walls.

Johannes, now in his late sixties, who currently runs the Lodge with his son Samuel, grew up knowing nothing more than being a von Trapp: “I didn’t have any other upbringing to compare it to.
I was living up on the hill with my family, being schooled at home and traveling on concert tours. Since I was the youngest of ten and most of them were significantly older than I, it was like 12 parents telling me to do something and work hard!”

The family’s namesake has been the catalyst to bringing the von Trapp’s story to the masses by route of film, and now hotels. The Villa Trapp Hotel holds the key to their past and Trapp Family Lodge gives birth to new family traditions.

~Jessica McMenamin


Go There:
Trapp Family Lodge, 700 Trapp Hill Road, Stowe, VT. 1-800-826-7000
Salzburg Music Festival, July 26-August 31
Visit Salzburg