Oeschinensee/Kandersteg Switzerland Stein hazard zone

not good

Nigel, did you find the YouTube video of the digging and soil moving they are doing to reduce the chance of rock debris and mudflow from reaching the village? It is so destructive and depressing for someone who loves this place, but apparently deemed necessary to protect the town and inhabitants.

It may be a bit of the issue you mention above with the mountain (there were multiple rock slides while we were staying there. You could hear them from our room, which was a bit unsettling), but the actual hotel closure was a bit more personal. We stayed there last summer for a week and talked to the owners while there. It seems a combination of burn out, staffing issues and some tourists creating a bit of a toxic environment contributed to them wanting to take some time off.

https://www.20min.ch/story/poebeleien-und-morddrohungen-hotel-am-oeschinensee-bleibt-diesen-sommer-zu-825564532617

Sad as it is a special place that is very unique. Hopefully it will return one day. For now they are just offering self service food to day trippers. I believe you can still stay overnight next door at Arva.

Thanks for the article. That is sad, and actually shocking that “guests” would behave so badly. I wonder if Oeschinensee has become yet another victim of Instagram celebrity, attracting lots of boorish people who have no respect for the environment or the traditions of such a place.

We first stayed there in 2002, spending 3 nights. We were the only non-Swiss guests at that time.

Yes, the main reason they are closed is because of the burnout/rude guest issues. It was a big story here in Switzerland. I was last there in 2019 and didn't see any particularly rude guests in action at the hotel or its restaurant, but it was clear then that Oeschinensee had become much more popular with international guests who were not so interested in hiking or enjoying nature, but just taking selfies and videos of themselves. At least 50-60% the people there fit this description. We saw many people in completely inappropriate outfits (sundresses with heels etc) who were clearly only there to do social media. I would assume this change in clientele had some part to play in things.
I think the lake actually became a victim of its own attempts at marketing in recent years - it then got a bit too popular and possibly attracted a different type of guest than in previous years.