In 1959, the young Walhovd couple, both trained in the hotel industry, took over the guesthouse. Their goal was to create Norway's best high-altitude hotel, and already during their first Christmas season, they had a full house and great success. They themselves lived in the beer and wine cellar, as all other rooms were rented out to paying guests. In 1962, the guesthouse was granted hotel status with all the rights that entailed. In 1967, Bardøla was expanded to 130 beds, and in 1972 to 170 beds. The indoor swimming pool and tennis courts were completed in the early 1970s. Bardøla was eventually complemented by its own hair salon, mini golf, outdoor pool, and the Kongsgården and Dronninggården cabins.

Hallingtunet
In 1971, Elsa and Egil Walhovd fulfilled an old dream. A complete mountain farm from the 1700s was moved to Bardøla from farms in Hallingdal. Today, Bardøla's guests can use Gamlestugu and Storstugu in Hallingtunet for parties and other events.

Well-being and warmth
Elsa and Egil Walhovd placed great emphasis on well-being and warmth in the development of the hotel. They combined hotel management with a warm commitment to the local community and helped to make Geilo famous throughout the country. Egil Walhovd passed away in 1986, and a few years later Elsa Walhovd decided to sell Bardøla.

Hans Wille
For 15 of the Walhovd family's years at Bardøla, the dedicated hotelier Hans Wille was their director. His winning personality and professional expertise meant a lot to Bardøla's loyal guests. Wille is also known as Geilo's "Uncle Hans."

Therese and Bernt Junger
The late 1980s were marked by changes in ownership, financial crisis, and a generally difficult operating and market situation. In the 1990s, Therese and Bernt Junger ran the hotel. By focusing on the staff, hospitality, and good food, they got the hotel back on track. Together with their employees, they did a fantastic job with Bardøla.

Ola Vindegg
In 1995, Ola Vindegg became both co-owner and chairman of the operating company, and together with the hosts, he took over the entire property in 1997. In 2000, Ola became the sole owner, but invited Roger Espeli and Terje Simonsen to join him early on. Ola remained the main shareholder until 2007, when a generational change took place. Ola Vindegg built log cabins adjacent to the hotel. From the first in 1997 to the current 26. In 2001, the hotel was expanded with 24 new, modern rooms and increased restaurant capacity. Today, the hotel has over 600 beds. The hotel is well-run and solid, thanks in large part to Ola's sense of consistent quality and expertise in maintenance.

Terje Simonsen, Rolf Ingar Rotegård, and the Holtefjell Group
Terje Simonsen, Rolf Ingar Rotegård, and the Holtefjell Group took over as owners of Bardøla, and Arill Ottersen became CEO. They continued the tradition of the owners also running the hotel, maintaining close contact with employees and guests. Today, Bardøla is a skilled enterprise with apprenticeships, contributing to general professional development in the industry. Bardøla stands out as Geilo's classic high mountain hotel, with a strong foothold in the broad market – one of Norway's most visited hotels. Cooperation and destination thinking have always been important for the hotel – today, among other things, with Visit Geilo and Geilo IL. The concept "Bardøla – more than a hotel" embodies the rich heritage of earlier times. In recent years, this has been complemented by Sofia's Café and Bar.

Pål Georg Gundersen
Gundersen purchased the hotel in November 2016, and now we stand strong together with our sister hotels Vestlia Resort and Highland Lodge, as part of the Geilo Group. Together, we are preparing to welcome tomorrow's hotel guests.