The history of our hotel in Lazise

The origins of the Quellenhof can be traced back to the distant year of 1897, when a single road led through Val Passiria/Passeiertal. Along this road was the simple inn, which frequently changed ownership. It was only when the Dorfer family took over the run-down inn in 1923 that things started to look up. Over the years, and with a lot of hard work and dedication, Heinrich Dorfer’s grandparents, Eduard Dorfer and Resi Niederbacher, created a cosy ambience where guests enjoyed staying. With its beer garden and nine-pin bowling alley, the Quellenhof soon became a popular meeting place, attracting visitors from near and far. At that time, the highlight of the inn was the blue trout, Grandma Resi’s speciality. Freshly caught from the crystal-clear Passirio/Passer river, the delicacy was popular with holiday guests and locals alike, even drawing the attention of notable figures, including ministers and other high-ranking personalities.

Love follows its own path – and so it happened that Berta, Eduard and Resi’s daughter, who was originally supposed to take over the business, ceded this inheritance to her brother Rudolf out of love and moved to St. Martin in Passeier. She arranged a job at the Quellenhof for her good friend Luise, who soon fell in love with Rudolf Dorfer, then the junior manager, and they tied the knot on 1 April 1959. In 1963, the two took over the then-modest hotel from Rudolf’s parents and, step by step, filled it with new life. A bitter setback for the whole family was the premature death of Rudolf Dorfer at the age of 42. His wife, Luise, was left behind with four small children and a flourishing inn. But Luise Dorfer was always a strong-willed and forward-looking woman. She did not give herself much time to mourn but did everything she could to secure the future of her family and the business. With a lot of drive, she continued to run the Quellenhof and, at the same time, take care of the children. In the 1970s, she expanded the Quellenhof, adding additional buildings and sports facilities. To this day, she is rightly considered a pioneer of the tourism industry in South Tyrol and demonstrated courage and foresight throughout her life.

With the unwavering support of his mother, Luise, Heinrich took over the Quellenhof in the early 1990s and embarked on a journey of continuous expansion. To begin with, he constructed a modest three-hole golf course, which rapidly gained popularity and was soon extended to meet the growing demand. In 1994, he rebuilt the Forellenhof, followed by the Alpenschlössel in 1999, and completely rebuilt the Quellenhof in 2000. Heinrich also demonstrated his foresight and pioneering spirit by building the bypass tunnel, which freed the Quellenhof from traffic. In 2004, the Parkresidenz with its suites, wellness area, and restaurants was built, followed by the Vitalresidenz in 2009.

Heinrich Dorfer’s special dream came to fruition in 2019 with the construction of the Quellenhof Luxury Resort Lazise on the south-eastern shore of picturesque Lake Garda, surrounded by towering cypresses and shimmering silver olive trees. It is a place of longing for all those who seek warm hospitality and luxurious touches in a Mediterranean ambience. What drew Heinrich Dorfer here was the Italian way of life, the Mediterranean lightness, and the vibrant energy all around. What fills us all with special joy to this day is that Mother Luise Dorfer, despite her fragility, was able to attend the grand opening of the Quellenhof Luxury Resort Lazise and marvel at the work of her son Heinrich with her own pride-filled eyes.