Trillevallen – A Story of Swedish Mountain Tourism

Anyone who delves into the history of Trillevallen gains a fascinating insight into the development of Swedish tourism from the 1930s to the present day. Traveling to the mountains was already popular in the early 20th century, and one person who contributed to this trend was Torsten Boberg. When he opened the hotel in Trillevallen in November 1939, it was an immediate success. Today, we would say that Torsten Boberg was a marketing genius with a keen sense of timing.

Who was Torsten Boberg?

He was born in Dalarna in 1892 and dedicated his life to outdoor activities and public education. He was an author and journalist, traveling across the country to give lectures on nature experiences, especially in the mountains. The step to opening his own hotel in Jämtland was a natural one. Thanks to his popular lecture tours, he made many friends who were eager to visit the hotel in Trillevallen as soon as it was completed. Together with his wife Ellen, Torsten organized cultural theme weeks that attracted literary and intellectual figures, as well as aristocrats in tuxedos and evening gowns.

Almost everyone became regular guests, booking their next stay before leaving. Guests often visited twice a year, in summer and winter, and stayed for at least a week, often longer. The high demand soon meant that Trillevallen’s beds were not enough. There are many amusing stories of how distinguished guests squeezed into dormitories, slept on mattresses on the floor, and stayed in forest ranger cabins. They gave up all comforts just to be at Trillevallen.

“The nobles’ trunks with their fancy clothes had to be hidden away in the attic. It even happened that married couples had to share beds—referred to as ‘double-deckers’.”

Torsten was a colorful character with great authority. The hospitality was personal and revolved around him and Ellen. Today, we often talk about an ‘at-home feeling’ when describing a hotel. Trillevallen in the 1940s was a pioneer in this. Ellen played a crucial role; she decided the seating arrangements in the dining room, which could be pivotal in determining whether a guest’s stay was successful or not.

During World War II, officers became a common sight at Trillevallen’s High Mountain Hotel. Western Jämtland was the first line of defense in case of a German attack. People who had never set foot in the mountains before fell in love with the area, and after the war, they returned with their families. Trillevallen, like many other mountain resorts, benefited from this for decades to come.

In the late 1950s, Trillevallen got its first ski lift; before that, a snowcat did the job. Around the same time, the Bobergs’ son, Ulf, took over the operation along with his wife, Susanne. Under their leadership, Trillevallen developed as an alpine ski resort. The cross-country trails were also expanded. Ulf named all the ski and hiking trails and marked them with hand-painted signs. These signs still guide the way across the mountain today.

Swedish ski tourism continued to develop during the 1950s and 60s, and Trillevallen remained at the forefront thanks to its early start. Just like in the 1940s, many well-known figures were drawn to the area to enjoy nature and relax. One of them was Olof Palme, who was often seen on the slopes and was said to have appreciated the peaceful environment.

By the 1970s, there were a total of ten lifts, and the system was known as the ‘Trillevallen Ski Circus.’ At the end of the decade, Ingmar Stenmark rose to fame, sparking an alpine skiing boom that Trillevallen also benefited from and continues to enjoy.

During the Stenmark era, entrepreneur Lars Nilsson visited Trillevallen for skiing. He fell in love with the place and, ten years later in 1986, bought the facility from the Boberg family. Lars Nilsson was committed to developing Trillevallen without over-exploiting it. He carefully renovated the high mountain hotel, built a new road, and restored the lifts. Tragically, Lars Nilsson passed away too soon, and today his wife Inger is the sole owner. She has continued to nurture and develop the destination. Significant investments have made Trillevallen’s High Mountain Hotel modern while preserving its 1940s atmosphere. New guests continue to discover this mountain paradise in Jämtland, and the story of the future is being written.

The Boberg family would be proud of today’s Trillevallen. Much would undoubtedly feel unfamiliar to a visitor from the 1940s, but the hospitality, personal service, and authentic mountain environment would be recognizable and something they would want to return to