We are very proud of what we have managed to create here in the middle of the beautiful forest in Istorp. From just forest to a complete conference facility with activities, accommodation and a well-equipped kitchen. With good ideas, a little bit of hard work and passion for making guests feel comfortable, you can go a long way. For us, what you know today as Skogens Hus became. Here is our story.
My name is Tommy Johansson and I am the one who started Skogens Hus. A good prerequisite is to be a little crazy. That’s what I usually tell those who ask.
It all started with me building a hunting cabin, which we would warm ourselves in when we hunted. So in 1998 I built a tented hut out of tarpaulin. With a fireplace in the middle. It worked perfectly for the purpose. During that time I was driving around Europe by bus and had about 200 hotel stays per year.
I remember one occasion in particular, when I was in Paris and driving around. The next day I was sitting in the forest in my hut, making a fire and enjoying the peace and quiet with a cup of coffee. I could almost hear the buzz of the cars at the Camps Elysées in Paris. I thought it would be fun to offer people who live in the hustle and bustle of the city the opportunity to come out here to the FOREST. To the peace.
In the fall of 2004, I got a call from a friend. She and eight friends wanted to do something fun and wondered if I could fix something for nine girls. You can’t help but snap up something, can you?
It turned out to be a tip walk that they would never forget, with lots of Elk and a long walk. Once there, they swam in 38-degree water and had a three-course meal. Everyone was super happy and that was the first step to Skogens Hus.
In July 2005, I started building a large wooden hut with a fireplace in the middle as a heat source. The work continued until October 2006 when we had a grand opening. It was a very good start, we treated the guests to a lovely game buffet and everyone was happy. Guests included IFK Göteborg’s then goalkeeper Bengt Andersson and Frölunda Indians Ronny Sundin and Jan-Axel Arravarra, among many others. There were about 35 of us in total.
In 2007 we demolished our old tent hut which had served its purpose and given us many fond memories. New production of a conference room with changing facilities began. In the fall of 2008 our long-awaited building was ready for use after a lot of work.
The number of guests at Skogens hus in 2007 was about 500 people and in 2008 it increased to almost 600 people. In the summer of 2009 we built a loop that is 1.2 km long. That is where we currently have our 5-a-side competitions.
In the spring of 2010 we are building a large, lovely wooden deck where we will place the hot tubs. In August we will start building our long-awaited kitchen. Our plan was that the kitchen would be ready by November, when the Christmas tables started. And it was. The number of guests has now increased to 900 people in 2010. Those of us who work here are passionate about what we do and have a lot of fun together.
I just have to say that we are a very good group who enjoy each other very much. That is a prerequisite for success, if you ask me. Our goal is that everyone who comes to Skogens hus should have an experience that they will not soon forget.
We have always been keen to help our customers here. So picking you and your gang up is a matter of course but also important because it becomes part of the overall concept where you should just be able to relax, enjoy and have a lot of fun. It’s a fantastic feeling when people get off the bus, in the middle of a dark forest and the torches are burning brightly and there’s smoke coming out of the hot tubs. The laughter and murmur of satisfied people ring out nicely through the forest night.
A little paradise in the middle of the forest could be called Skogens Hus. We have many outdoor activities where we can be completely undisturbed, but we also have great opportunities to be indoors. Because we have more than one house.
We welcome groups from 15 to 60 people and we can welcome up to 100 people in two buildings. We only take one group or company at a time.
The forest is the best place in the world … But sometimes it’s practical to have a roof over your head. In our dining room we can sit up to 50 people and eat good food while the fire is crackling. We also have a small bar there.
It can be windy and rainy outside as much as you like. We sit inside in wonderful cabin heat. We have several nice little houses that we have adapted to your needs. The conference room also takes 50 people.
If you want your stay at Skogens Hus to last more than one day, we will arrange a nice overnight stay in our cabins.
