History

Stenungsbaden Yacht Club is located on Stenungsön Island, cut off from the mainland by a narrow water channel. During the 1870's the affluent part of Gothenburg's population, who did not want to elbow themselves around Marstrand beach, cast their eyes upon Stenungsön Island as an ideal spot for undisturbed summer living. The same was true of affluent people from Stockholm. The seaside resort developed hand-in-hand with the houses and society clubs. A bathing house was also built where dog-tired merchants could take a seaweed steam bath with the accompanied skin scrub.

The development of the seaside resort led to Stenungsön Island changing character and becoming a world away from Stenungsund on the mainland. Prestigious merchant residences were scatter around the island, with large beachfront properties and well-kept gardens with tennis courts. They stood in stark contrast to the austere, squat workman community on the mainland. Karl Erik Hasselblad lived on the southern side of the island, father to the up and coming camera manufacturer Victor Hasselblad, together with his family in a sumptuous merchant residence. Also to the south lived the boss of Pripp & Lyckholm, Vilhelm Månsson. And the owner of "Triangel" coffee, Herman Lindqvist, in 1902 built his magnificent summer residence exactly where Stenungsbaden is located today, with a superb view of the channel and the mainland.

The house that Herman Lindqvist built remained until 1990 and was at that time furnished as offices. In 1962 a café was opened as part of the summerhouse and in 1963 the first 20 rooms of Stenungsbaden Hotel were inaugurated. It was first in 1968 that Stenungsbaden became a year round facility with conference facilities and an annex with 35 rooms. Evenings with dancing were also arranged from time to time. Eight years later Klantours Scandinavia AB, owned by the trio of Tomas Wallin, Klas Hammar and Anders Personne bought the building, hotel concern and land from the building contractor Johannes Nilsson. The new owners began to renovate and promote the establishment more than had been the case previously.

In June of 1977 all non-fixed furnishings were auctioned off in combination with the first renovation. A conference was planned to take place at the hotel three days later, but since the new furnishings were due to arrive the same evening from Finland no difficulties were envisaged. However, no lorry arrived. When the guests arrived in the morning, then they were met by a very sparsely furnished hotel indeed. The hotel management welcomed their guests and invited them on a whole day sightseeing trip around the archipelago with a buffet meal. During the day the new furnishings arrived and were fitted in place and when the guests stepped on land in the evening their newly renovated rooms and beds in the hotel welcomed them!

The development of the establishment went on a pace, a bit too rapidly as it would later turn out. Tomas Wallin was at this time the largest owner with 80% of the shares. The name of the Stenungsbaden Yacht Club was introduced in 1986. In 1988 our exclusive section the Royal Treat was inaugurated. Tomas Wallin, the then chairman, made a stupendous investment in the Swedish challenger for the America's Cup, SACC. Sailors more often visited the offices than the hotel's own administration. The Swedish number twelve, the New Sweden that took part in the World Championships in Luleå, was commissioned, as was a one-tonner, the Entertainer.

In the beginning of the 90's high costs and interest rates began to break the back of the company and in 1994 it came to an end. The Stadshypotek, which lent out the money with the hotel business as collateral, took over. Three years later Fastighets AB Balder was formed by the Handelsbanken bank and during the autumn of 1999 Choice Hotels became the new owners. So Stenungsbaden sails on, now in calmer waters and under the name of Stenungsbaden Yacht Club. In most respects conducting the same business as before and with regular renovations to the hotel. Conference participants, sailors, golfers and weekend visitors enjoy themselves as never before. Stenungsbaden and Stenungsön Island are still great attractions, all year round and with the best reputation in the whole of conference Sweden.