Interview with the owners of the Willingen summer toboggan run
Leisure & Adventure
Bergwelt Ritzhagen doesn’t just offer the summer toboggan run, but also a mountain cart track, summer tubing, wooden ball tracks, and the “Einkehrschwung” hut catering, as well as pure winter sports. Owners Natalie & Christian Rummel share exclusive insights.
What makes Willingen and its region so special?
Natalie & Christian Rummel: Willingen offers its guests over 20 leisure facilities in one place. Whether summer or winter, sun, rain, or snow – there’s something here for every season, every weather, and above all, every taste. And the best part: our Willingen leisure world is nestled in the beautiful nature of the Sauerland, so the often very short distances between the various attractions also allow you to breathe in fresh mountain air and enjoy unique panoramic views.
What specifically does Willingen offer tourists?
Natalie & Christian Rummel: Willingen is a leisure and sports paradise surrounded by mountains, meadows, and forests. Guests who love leisure and sports, especially families and active vacationers, will find everything their hearts desire here: over 20 leisure attractions for any weather and every season, an attractive ski area, varied bike trails for beginners and pros, hiking and adventure trails, as well as a wide selection of gastronomic offerings.
What can our future guests look forward to when visiting the summer toboggan run?
Natalie & Christian Rummel: “Off to Bergwelt Ritzhagen” – that’s the motto we use to promote visits to our summer toboggan run, which has long been more than just that. At our adventure mountain in the heart of Willingen’s nature, numerous attractions invite you to take a break from everyday life: if you love feeling the wind whistle past your ears, our 700-meter-long toboggan run with a panoramic view is just the place for you. Thanks to special braking technology, nothing stands in the way of the fun, even in wet conditions.
Our playground with two 60 m long wooden ball tracks, a 6-field trampoline, and a summer tubing track will make children’s hearts beat faster.
“Tricycles are so yesterday” is the word at our newest attraction: there, all generations can hop on a mountain cart and zip 1,100 meters down our ski slope on three wheels. You can head uphill comfortably with our Ritzhagen 6-seater chairlift, which hikers are also welcome to use.
If all that action works up an appetite, our team will be happy to treat you in our modern hut restaurant, “Einkehrschwung.”
Who are the attractions particularly suitable for?
Natalie & Christian Rummel: Our leisure mountain with the summer toboggan run, mountain cart track, etc., is of course the perfect excursion destination for families and children’s or youth groups, but vacationers of all ages who enjoy leisure activities can also have a great time with us. Furthermore, our leisure mountain is located directly on attractive hiking and biking trails and invites you to take a break. Our hut catering is certified as a hikers’ hut.
And in winter, Ritzhagen is the perfect address for families who want to ski and sled. Pros can carve their turns at our neighboring Sonnenlift.
Is there an insider tip? What should you definitely do when you visit?
Natalie & Christian Rummel: You definitely have to try our mountain carts. A descent down our ski slope is a blast for all generations. Helmet on and off you go. With the two hand brakes, which everyone knows from cycling, it’s very easy to set your own pace.
And if you loved your marble run as a kid, you should definitely test our two 60-meter-long wooden ball tracks, because that’s marble fun in XXL.
Since our little guests are particularly close to our hearts in our family business, they can get to know our attractions with the help of our “Dwarf Rally.” The puzzle fun leads across the entire grounds, and our dwarf mascots are happy to help solve the tasks.
What considerations are there for the future?
Natalie & Christian Rummel: Skiing operations are still a very important source of income for us. However, since winters in our low mountain range aren’t always reliable, we are focusing on expanding our summer and year-round business for the future. A central idea for this is the construction of a second summer toboggan run. Modern coaster technology is almost independent of weather, and operating two different types of toboggan runs in parallel adds extra variety for guests. In addition, a family adventure trail from the chairlift mountain station to the valley station is being planned, and we will of course continue to try to make our leisure mountain a new experience time and again through many small and large attractions.
How important is new accommodation like the Hotel Schutzhütte for the region?
Natalie & Christian Rummel: Hotel projects like the Schutzhütte, but also other accommodations aimed at families and leisure- and sport-oriented vacationers, are important milestones for our region. Willingen has been working for a long time to expand the offerings for these target groups. This includes not only attractive leisure facilities but also equally attractive and high-quality accommodation and catering businesses.
In terms of family tourism, the Schutzhütte, like the Sonnenpark, will become one of the flagships for Willingen and will hopefully attract many guests to our beautiful region or keep them there.
What else would you like to pass on to our future guests?
Natalie & Christian Rummel: Willingen offers a unique density of leisure facilities across Germany, embedded in beautiful nature. Discover and experience this variety to the fullest, enjoy a wonderful break from everyday life – without even having to hop on a plane. And maybe you’ll all like it so much here that your children will travel back to Willingen with their own children someday…
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We thank the Rummel family for this very detailed interview. Find out more about the toboggan run and more at sommerrodelbahn-willingen.de
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