Anno 1648

It is impossible to determine exactly how long there has been an inn at Sundvollen. The first documented event we know of dates back to 1648. At that time, Marte Kroksund was reported to the governor by the bailiff for offending people she had ferried across the strait and for being intoxicated. She lived on a farm on the west side of Kroksundet and operated a tavern that also provided accommodation. In 1788, Gaute Sundvollen became the owner of the property, and that year the inn was recommended as a place to stay for travelers. A list from the sheriff also states that he ran a tavern and inn where beer and spirits were sold. Shortly after, in 1805, the Bergen King's Road was extended to Kroksund. In 1811, the owner of Sundvollen, Ole Blyberg, received a royal license to operate the inn on the farm. In addition to the traffic along the king's road, he also attracted tourists to Sundvollen. Queen Desideria visited the place in 1825, and in 1832, her husband Charles III John also visited. Johan Blyberg, the son, took over the operation in 1853 and further developed the hotel together with his wife Olava Madsdatter Bye. He also received royal visits when Charles IV visited Sundvolden in the 1860s. One of several porcelain plates that he gave to the staff as a token of appreciation is still located at the hotel. In 1885, the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII of the United Kingdom, stayed at Sundvolden. Oscar II and Wilhelm II of Germany also visited in 1891. In 1902, Sundvollen became a regular stop for transportation services. King Haakon VII, Queen Maud, and Crown Prince Olav made the last royal visit during Johan Blyberg's time. The next generation, Ole Blyberg, took over in 1909. In the same year, he built a new wing with a dining room using materials from the recently demolished Sundvoll Mill. In 1914, he also erected a large and modern two-story hotel building on the south side of the old hotel, later known as "Societeten." During his time, King Haakon VII visited the hotel several times, including in the company of Fridtjof Nansen. The Lier Line started with a boat route from Svangstrand near Sylling to Sundvollen pier in 1904. In 1910, Bennett's Reisebureau also started a regular bus route between Kristiania and Sundvollen. This led to many visitors coming to see Kongens Utsikt and Krokkleiva, with Sundvolden Hotel being the natural accommodation choice. In 1922-1923, Ole Blyberg built a new farmyard and buildings near Kroksundet. After Ole Blyberg, there were several owners who had the hotel for a short time. In 1932, Martin Hansen took over. He was a farm boy from Baskerud and a shopkeeper. He operated the place together with his wife Johanne Birgine Hurum until his death in 1955. His daughter Ruth Helgestad and her husband Alf Helgestad took over afterward. Alf Helgestad passed away in 1959, and Ruth ran the hotel alone until 1963. Then, Arne Bergendahl Laeskogen became her partner, and in 1965, he purchased the hotel for 500,000 kroner. At that time, the hotel business was on the verge of ending as Mobil Oil wanted to buy the property to build a large service center with a gas station. The following year, Arne Laeskogen married Bjørg Moe, and they restored the very run-down hotel. They managed to attract government authorities and the City of Oslo as regular customers, and in 1972, they decided to establish conference facilities. The hotel was modernized during the 1970s and became known as one of the country's leading conference hotels in the 1980s. Their son, Tord Moe Laeskogen, took over the operation in 2000 together with his wife, Cecilie Laeskogen. In 2008, when the road to Åsa was redirected past Sundvolden Hotel, Sundvolden Holding, the owning company, financed a new commuter parking lot and exit, and in return, they received permission to expand the hotel. In 2007, the hotel became a member of "De Historiske Hotell og Spisesteder" (The Historic Hotels and Restaurants). It received the Norwegian Working Environment Award in 2008 and holds the Olavsrosa designation. After the terrorist attack on Utøya on July 22, 2011, Sundvolden Hotel opened its doors to relatives, rescue personnel, and a large number of journalists. They also provided food deliveries to the crews on Utøya. The fact that nearly 4.5 million kroner of the bill was for damaged furniture and equipment, along with 130,000 kroner for repairs to outdoor areas and the courtyard, is an indication of how hectic those days were for the hotel.