Family & History
Many hands, one team.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, timber harvesting flourished in our region.
Many woodcutters worked at the Calw Timber Company, who needed accommodation because they came from other regions.

In 1821, the forest worker Alt-Mathäus Züfle, a forest ranger, built the Auerhahn Forester's House with stables on the ground floor and a tavern on the first floor.

One for all – all for one. Being able to rely on each other.
Brotherly love and joy of creation. Smiles that come from the heart.
Security and tradition, great-grandchildren, and a place in life.

This is us, the team at Auerhahn Forester's House and the Zepf family.

A good soul

Katrin Zepf

Forester Dieter Zepf and his wife Katrin ran the Forsthaus Auerhahn from 1963-1997. They started an extensive expansion programme to increase capacity, and when the Forsthaus came up for sale in 1982, they purchased it and, from then on, ran it as a hotel. Still today, Katrin Zepf is seen as the “good soul” of the hotel. She never misses a day and still takes good care of her guests.

The couple in charge

Ilona and Martin Zepf

Martin Zepf, who is the son of forester Dieter and his wife Katrin, now runs the hotel as a member of the second generation of the family. In Ilona, he has found a wife who clearly fits in perfectly in the Auerhahn. Every evening, she is there in the restaurant with Martin, making sure that the guests are well-looked after.

Management and communications

Nicolas and Tobias Zepf

Nicolas joined the management team of the Auerhahn some time ago – in addition to his role as the manager of the Grindehütte restaurant. He is a member of the third generation of the Zepf family to work at the Forsthaus.
Tobias works in the skies above the Black Forest. As a pilot, he flies cargo aircraft all over the world – and that's why it may sometimes be the case that he is called to attend to the server in Reception via long distance call from Hong Kong or Tokyo. And he always manages it!

Housekeeping

Anneliese Zepf

Martin Zepf's sister-in-law has been working in the Forsthaus Auerhahn for 40 years now. Dedication, patience and reliability are her most important qualities. She is the hotel's philosopher – the best person to tell you whether worrying gives you wrinkles, or the other way round.