Experience the Trapp Family Lodge Charm

Settle into one of our delightful rooms or suites with European furnishings and mountain views from your balcony. Indulge in the charm of an alpine lodge, the conveniences of a modern resort, and the warmth of a family-run property. Enjoy year-round activities such as, but not limited to, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, backcountry skiing, hiking, mountain biking, tennis, and yoga. Experience one of our many on site restaurants or special culinary offerings such as tours of von Trapp Brewing, visits to our Slayton Pasture Cabin (seasonal), wine tastings and more! Whether you seek solitude or spirited activities, Trapp Family Lodge is the choice for an unforgettable vacation any time of year.

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The History of the von Trapp FamilyThe Story Behind The Story

In the early 1940s, the von Trapp family toured the United States as the Trapp Family Singers before eventually settling in Stowe, Vermont, on an enchanted farm with sweeping mountain vistas reminiscent of their beloved Austria. In the summer of 1950, they began welcoming guests to a rustic, 27-room family home/lodge. After a devastating fire in 1980, the original structure was replaced by the new Trapp Family Lodge, a striking, 96-room alpine lodge situated on 2,600 acres offering magnificent indoor and outdoor resort amenities. The entire property is owned and operated by the von Trapp family. You can learn all about the von Trapp family history by reading below or taking a tour while staying at our resort.

Maria von Trapp The Real Maria

Born on a train en route to Vienna on January 26, 1905, Maria Augusta Kutschera’s anxious entrance into the world set in motion a life full of remarkable and challenging events that would be immortalized on stage and screen. Maria’s mother died when she was only two years old and her father left her with an elderly cousin, where she experienced a lonely and strict upbringing.

Surprisingly, Maria grew up as a socialist and atheist who was cynical of all religions, until a chance meeting with a Jesuit priest at her college changed her beliefs and the course of her life. Maria dedicated her life to the convent, but was taken away from the outdoor activities she loved so much. As a result of her lack of fresh air and exercise, her doctor became concerned for her health and the decision was made to send her to the home of retired naval captain, George von Trapp. Her position was not governess to all the children, as the movie portrayed, but specifically to the captain's daughter who was bedridden with rheumatic fever.

The rest is truly history. Maria never returned to the convent and married the Captain on November 26, 1927. This is the story that has been made immortalized by The Sound of Music. Maria von Trapp passed away on March 28, 1987, and is interred in the family cemetery at Trapp Family Lodge.

Captain von Trapp Memories of Our Father

The South Seas — I remember Father's dream of taking the entire family to the Marquesas Islands, in the South Seas, where he had visited as a young Naval Cadet. That dream never materialized. Instead we went to America.

The Whistle — As a U-boat commander, he needed a Bosun's Whistle to give commands, especially in the howling winds and roaring sea where a voice could be drowned out. In Salzburg, we had a large house and large gardens, so he used that whistle to call us instead of his voice, which we might not have heard. Each one of us had a special call, and one call for when he wanted all of us. When we heard this, we stormed to him, but we never had to march or stand at attention.

A Few of Our Favorite Things — In our garden, Father built a big, open hut with three walls and a roof. It was large enough to hang hammocks inside and we each got our own. Then he demonstrated how to sleep in them without falling out. He also bought folding, rubber canoes with canvas sails and showed us how to use them. On our little outings, Father taught us how to make fires without matches and how to roast potatoes and apples in the hot cinders. When we lost our money, because the bank failed during the Depression, he started a chicken farm. We learned how to take care of the chicks and how to sift out the ones that did not lay eggs. Agathe's book, Memories Before and After The Sound of Music, contains other wonderful stories about Father.

The von Trapp Children Spanning from 1911 to today

The von Trapp children, made famous by the musical "The Sound of Music," were part of the von Trapp Family Singers, whose real-life story inspired the film and play. However, it's important to note that "The Sound of Music" took artistic liberties with the number and names of the children. In reality, Georg von Trapp and his first wife, Agathe Whitehead, had seven children, and he had three more with his second wife, Maria Augusta Kutschera. Here are brief bios for each:

Rupert (1911-1992): The eldest child, Rupert von Trapp, was a medical doctor who served as an orderly in the 10th Mountain Division of United States Army during World War II. He was a medical doctor in Austria but then attended medical school at the University of Vermont after the war to obtain his U.S. MD License. He married Henriette Lejoie and raised 6 children in Adamsville, Rhode Island. He was portrayed as Fredrich in "The Sound of Music".

Agathe (1913-2010): Agathe von Trapp was known for her artistic talents; she wrote "Memories: Before and After the Sound of Music" which was also made into a full-length German film, The von Trapp Family: A Life of Music. She was a school music teacher and lived in Glyndon, Maryland, until her death in 2010. She was portrayed as Leisl in "The Sound of Music". 

Maria Franziska (1914-2014): Maria Franziska was the last surviving member of the original von Trapp children and worked to maintain the accuracy of her family's history. She worked for over 30 years in Papua, New Guinea, as a missionary, and adopted a young boy by the name of Kikuli Mwanukuzi. She was known as Mitzi to the family members but known as Louisa in "The Sound of Music". 

Werner (1915-2007): Werner von Trapp was portrayed as Kurt in "The Sound of Music". He was in the 10th Mountain Division in Italy during WWII. After returning to Vermont, he married Erika Klambauer and had 6 children, raising them on a farm in Waitsfield, Vermont. His family continues to farm and produce von Trapp Farmstead Cheese.

Hedwig (1917-1972): Hedwig von Trapp had chronic asthma throughout her life. After the family stopped touring, she worked and lived in Oahu, Hawaii, teaching music at St Anthony's School. She later moved to Zell am See, Austria, to teach music where she passed away at the early age of 55. She was portrayed as Brigitta in "The Sound of Music". 

Johanna (1919-1994): Johanna was an artistic soul whose works may be seen at the Trapp Family Lodge. She was married to Ernst Winter, and moved back to Austria where she raised her 7 children.  She is portrayed as Marta in "The Sound of Music".

Martina (1921-1951): Martina was portrayed as Gretel in "The Sound of Music" and was the 7th child of the captain and his first wife Agathe. She married Jean Dupiere in 1949. While the family was on tour in 1951, she stayed behind to give birth to her first child, a daughter, Nortburga, who was still born. Martina sadly passed shortly thereafter from complications. 

The three children born to Georg and Maria von Trapp, not depicted in "The Sound of Music", are:

Rosmarie (1929-2022): Rosmarie von Trapp was a missionary in Papua New Guinea. Once she returned to Stowe, she worked at the lodge and indulged as a naturalist. She enjoyed hours of hiking and crafting as well as musically entertaining guests.

Eleonore (1931-2021): Eleonore "Lorli" von Trapp added a new dimension to the family's performances, participating in their tours and musical events. She married Hugh Campbell in 1954 and raised her 7 daughters on an adjoining farm to that of Werner's in Waitsfield, Vermont. Her daughter Elizabeth Campbell translated the Captain's memoires "To The Last Salute" from German to English. 

Johannes (1939-): The sole surviving and youngest von Trapp, Johannes, was involved in the family's music but later focused on managing the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont. After graduating high school, Johannes served as a missionary in Papua, New Guinea, and upon his return, attended Dartmouth College, finishing up at Yale with a Master's in Forestry. In 1963 he introduced the first herd of Scotch Highland Coos. In 1964 he enlisted in the VT National Guard. Johannes designed and introduced the first commercial cross-country ski center in the United States with Per Sorli in 1968. He took over the reins from Maria in 1969 and married Lynne Peterson. They have 2 children, Kristina and Sam, who help run the lodge today.

As Johannes was purchasing land to grow the business it was discovered that there were aquafers of spring water throughout the property. This gave Johannes an idea given his love of crisp Austrian lagers, to build a brewery in 2010. This was so successful, it lead to the building of our new, state of the art, 20,000 sq foot brewery on property, which opened in 2016. It is also home of our famous von Trapp Brewing Bierhall. 

The Sound of Music Movie

Before The Sound of Music, the von Trapp story was told by the Germans in two films, Die Trapp Familie (The Trapp Family) in 1956 and Die Trapp Familie in Amerika in 1958, both of which were written by Herbert Reinecker and directed by Wolfgang Liebeneiner. In 1959, the play, The Sound of Music, opened on Broadway and because of its popularity, Hollywood made it into a film in 1965. The film starred Julie Andrews as Maria and Christopher Plummer as Baron von Trapp. It received an Academy Award for “Best Picture of the Year.” The film is a worldwide favorite, and the family even received medals of honor from the Salzburg government in 1998 because of the increase in tourism caused by the movie.

Even though it is loved by many, the von Trapps insist that the film is not a documentary of their life. Rodgers and Hammerstein were inspired to write it after reading their mother's book, The Story of The Trapp Family. However, because the family sold the rights to their story to the German film company, they had no control over the content of The Sound of Music. As a result, there are some differences, especially in the way their father was represented and the way they escaped Austria.

Trapp Family Chronology

1880 | Birth of Georg von Trapp.


1905 | A native of Zillertal, Tirol, Austria, Maria Augusta Kutschera born in Vienna on January 26th.


1924 | Maria becomes a candidate for the novitiate at Nonnberg Benedictine Convent.


1926 | Maria was chosen by the Mother Abbess to help the Baron Georg von Trapp with his seven children and tutor young Maria who had contracted scarlet fever.


1927 | Georg and Maria wed on November 26th; Maria becomes step-mother of Rupert, Werner, Johanna, Agathe, Maria, Martina and Hedwig.


1929 | Rosmarie von Trapp, Maria and the Baron's first child, is born.


1931 | Daughter Eleonore is born.


1936 | Maria and Monsignor Franz Wasner begin the Trapp Family Singers ( originally The Trapp Family Chorus).


1938 | Family flees Nazi-occupied Austria; concert tours throughout Europe followed by a three month tour in America.


1939 | Family emigrates to U.S. and settles in Merion, PA; Maria's only son, Johannes von Trapp, is born.


1942 | The Trapp Family purchases part of the old Gale Farm, Stowe, VT, and name it Cor Unum (One Heart), later to become the Trapp Family Lodge.


1945 | Trapp Music Camp opens.


1947 | Baron Georg von Trapp dies.


1948 | First addition made to the lodge to accommodate guests; Pope Pius XII honors Maria with Bene Merenti Medal for Trapp Family Austrian Relief, Inc. which aided thousands of Austrians during World War II.


1950 | Maria wins St. Francis de Sales Golden Book Award from the Catholic Writers Guild for best book of non fiction, The Trapp Family Singers; award winning Broadway hit and Oscar-winning film, The Sound of Music, based on this book.


1950 | Stone chapel built in honor of WWII soldiers.


1956 | Final Trapp Family Singers concert in the United States.


1959 | Rodgers & Hammerstein's Sound of Music opens on Broadway; Mary Martin plays Maria
The von Trapp family concentrates on lodge business.


1965 | The Sound of Music movie premiers, starring Julie Andrews.


1967 | Maria awarded the Honorary Cross First Class for Science and Art by the Austrian Government for cultural endeavors.


1968 | Johannes von Trapp oversees the opening of the Cross Country Ski Center, the First of its kind in the U.S. and considered the foremost cross country ski touring center in America today.


1980 | Old Lodge burns to the ground in tragic fire on December 20th. Cause of the fire remains unknown.


1981 | Construction of chalet guest houses and new lodge begins.


1983 | In December, first guest registers at the new Trapp Family Lodge.


1983 | Concert in the Meadow series begins.


1984 | Maria dedicates new lodge; Fitness Center opens.


1987 | Maria dies after a short illness.


1993 | Year of Celebrations! 10th Anniversary of new Trapp Family Lodge and 25th Anniversary of the Cross Country Ski Center.


1996 | Snow Country Magazine names Trapp Family Lodge "Finest Cross-Country Ski Resort in the United States.


1997 | Austrian Military Academy visits Trapp Family Lodge in honor of Captain Georg von Trapp on the fiftieth anniversary of his death. Full ceremony at the gravesite with von Trapp family in attendance.


2000 | The Sound of Music re-opens on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre. Von Trapp family members attend the gala opening.
Family Fun magazine highlights TFL's "Family Package" as the "Family Traveler's Great Deal.
Lodge earns environmental designation as a "Green Hotel in the Green Mountain State".
Gourmet Magazine's Reader's Poll names TFL among the top 5 hotels in America as "Tops for Pursuits and Pleasures" in the Skiing/Winter Sports category.
Trapp Family Lodge adds 24,000 square foot meeting space and accommodations. Three meeting rooms and twenty-three guest rooms and suites.


2004 | The first four Villas at Trapp Family Lodge are completed and sold. The project to be spread out over a five year period with a total of forty units built.


2007 | Sam von Trapp, son of Johannes becomes Vice President of the Lodge.
Werner dies October 11, 2007.
Trapp Family Lodge starts developing mountain bike trails on the 2500 acre property.
Sam von Trapp implements snowmaking for the cross-country ski center.


2008 | The Lodge celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Cross-country ski center.
Johannes & Sam von Trapp were highlighted in the New York Times Christmas Day.
Trapp Family Lodge was featured and ABC National World News along with airing their first commercial during the "The Sound of Music".


2009 | The Austrian Tea Room is converted to the Bakery


2010 | Trapp Lager is introduced in April.
Agathe dies December 28, 2010.


2014 | Maria Franziska von Trapp dies on February 18, 2014.


2015 | von Trapp Brewing opens new expanded on-site brewery.
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