The Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch, Germany. is expected to reopen on June 15, 2020, weeks after it closed because of the coronavirus. Some services will be limited when the lodge reopens, and guests will be asked to bring face masks with them, to wear in common areas, and to observe social distancing guidelines. (U.S. Army)
The Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch, Germany. is expected to reopen on June 15, 2020, weeks after it closed because of the coronavirus. Some services will be limited when the lodge reopens, and guests will be asked to bring face masks with them, to wear in common areas, and to observe social distancing guidelines. (U.S. Army)
The Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch, Germany. is opening its doors on June 15, 2020, after being closed due to coronavirus restrictions. (Stars and Stripes)
The Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch, Germany, is expected to reopen on June 15, 2020, weeks after it closed its doors due to coronavirus restrictions. (Brad Hays/The Edelweiss Lodge and Resort )
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The Edelweiss Resort and Lodge in the Bavarian town of Garmisch is set to reopen in mid-June, weeks after it shut its doors because of the coronavirus.
But the June 15 reopening will come with some restrictions, made necessary by the coronavirus, the Armed Forces Recreation Centers said.
Initially, reservations will be accepted only from eligible service members, their families and other authorized guests who reside in Germany, AFRC said in a statement last week.
A maximum of half of the lodge’s 258 rooms will be occupied at any given time, but more guests will be welcomed “as soon as conditions related to COVID-19 permit,” it said.
Services and amenities offered by the resort, which sits at the foot of Germany’s highest mountain, the Zugspitze, will be limited, and several anti-coronavirus measures have been put in place to protect customers and staff, the statement said.
Glass partitions have been installed at the reception area and other locations around the resort; all entrances and restaurants have hand sanitizer stations; and staff have been trained to observe strict standards of hygiene, cleanliness and social distancing to minimize the risk of spreading the virus.
Lifts on the Zugspitze will be open, and the Alpental mini-golf course will operate during the day, the statement said. E-bikes will be available to rent at the Point Wellness Club, but the fitness club itself — a popular fixture featuring a gym, hot tub, pool and sauna — will remain closed, it said.
Guided tours of the alpine area will be available, but group sizes will be limited, the statement said.
Guests should bring face masks to wear in common areas and observe social distancing guidelines during their stay, it said.
Through August, the Edelweiss will allow cancelations up to two days before the start of the reservation, the resort says on its website. “We want you to only travel when you feel safe,” it says.
In addition to service members and their families, those authorized to use AFRC facilities like the Edelweiss resort include armed forces retirees, members of other uniformed services such as the public health service, disabled veterans, others who have separated from the military, surviving spouses and families, and Defense Department civilians.
