Ferienpark Merkelbach

Super!

The house itself needs serious attention. There’s hardly anywhere to put things despite it being set up for eight people, and we found just seven drinking glasses, decorated with childish fish. Several beds were broken or creaky, with some held up by bricks. The shower had mold, fixtures were missing or broken, and a bedroom blackout blind didn’t work. The kitchen was very old, partly broken, and neglected, the fridge temperature control didn’t work, and there was dirt, dust, and cobwebs. The dining table had “2016” and pictures of body parts carved into it, which felt completely inappropriate in a family rental for young children. Getting there felt like arriving at a building site, with construction fencing, containers, pallets, and an uncared-for outdoor area. We had to move our bags on old shopping carts whose wheels were barely controllable. We chose this place in part because its website said fireworks were entirely banned on New Year’s Eve. Once there, we were told they were allowed “in the front meadow.” Those two versions don’t sit right with us. The moose park information was also misleading: the accommodation still actively advertises the park and moose, though staff on site said the moose hadn’t been there for quite a while. We only learned they had “escaped” after asking, even though apparently this had been known for months. It needs much better cleaning and organization, as well as renovation. Between the condition of the house and the inaccurate information, it wasn’t suitable for a relaxing family holiday.

We’d driven 350 km through the woods full of anticipation, and the setting really was beautiful. But when we arrived after St. Nicholas Day, the place was silent. The holiday park being closed at that time of year was mentioned on the website, but apparently the two daily guided Moose Park tours were meant to run. There were no signs from the operator saying there were no moose and the tours weren’t happening. After looking into it briefly and speaking with an employee, we headed home disappointed. We won’t return. We’d planned this visit around seeing the Moose Park and had checked twice in advance to ask whether there was anything special we should know.

Our third visit was in autumn 2025, this time with our dog, after a long gap. We stayed for a week in one of the new holiday apartments, which you enter from outside the old complex. The house key also let us into the grounds, and we felt comfortable there again. The south-facing balcony gave us a lovely, long-lasting view over the complex, and we really enjoyed being in the forest. The apartment was modern and nicely furnished, with some particularly high-quality pieces. A couple of practical things could’ve been better: there was no good way to clean our shoes before going in, so we were constantly sweeping up forest dirt, and neither the bathroom nor kitchen had a single hook or towel rail. Also, don’t come expecting to cook as a hobby. The kitchen was fine for simple meals, but the pots, pans, and other utensils were only enough for basic cooking. Still, those complaints feel pretty minor. The Merkelbach family’s hospitality deserves a mention too. They were easy to reach and dealt with problems quickly and kindly. I first came to Ferienpark Merkelbach at Christmas in the early 90s. There was lots of snow and it was bitterly cold, well into double-digit negatives. Many years later we visited again at Christmas. The world’s largest log cabin was there then, with a great food offering, but there was almost no snow. Two very different stays.