From Willisau LU to the Black Forest: Swiss family fulfill their dream of owning their own campsite

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“Almost everyone is surprised that we immigrated from Switzerland to Germany, while Germans love to move to Switzerland,” says Vinzenz Blum with a laugh. The educated postman, who later ran an insurance agency at Willsau LU and was supported for years by his wife Priska, has a simple explanation for this: “We didn’t have the money to buy a campsite in Switzerland.”

Also, offers to buy from campgrounds are rare and tenants are more likely to be sought after, adds Priska Blum. “We wanted something of our own.” The family accidentally found what they were looking for in the Black Forest in 2012. The Blum couple have been living their dream since 2013 in Wolfach-halbmeil (Germany), about two hours from their former residence Willisau.

Purchasing decision with head and instinctive feeling

His two daughters, Corinne and Michelle, who were still studying at the time, stayed at the family home in Willisau. “It was also important for us to be able to quickly reach our children in Switzerland in case of a ‘fire’,” explains the father. Both girls supported their parents’ decision and were enthusiastic about the “Trendcamping” campground in the Black Forest from the very beginning.

“Since our kids were born, we’ve all gone on camping holidays and wandered around in our mobile home,” says Vinzenz Blum. The Blum couple had long nurtured the desire to buy their own campground. In 2012, the idea materialized. When they visited the Wolfach-halbmeil campsite in the Kinzig valley, the family was immediately excited: “It was a heartfelt feeling. We saw that in this gorgeous location and the relatively new campground with a restaurant of this size was exactly what we were looking for. Our daughters were also addicted,” recalls Priska Blum.

Unfinished house developed by myself

At the beginning of 2013, Blums became new owners of the campground in the middle of the Black Forest for around 700,000 francs. They moved to the unfinished house. «The house was still under construction, but livable. We’re clumsy and we continued to expand the two circles with the support of ourselves and our friends,” explains Vinzenz Blum.

The couple also invested about 200,000 francs to build the house. The house in Willisau was sold after her daughters completed their education and moved into their apartment. “We have a humble history. With the sale of the house, we were able to finance and build this new existence in our new home,” says the family man.

A fresh start in your new country with a plan B in mind

The campground was established in 2000. It had several owners who gave up soon after. “We gave ourselves five years to set up our business and evaluate, but we always had a plan B and worked hard to avoid getting into financial trouble,” says his wife.

It is planned that the couple will be able to do all their work such as food, service, environment and cleaning works and all office work during the season by saving costs and go on vacation. in their caravans during the winter. “We’d be hired to work in the winter if we had to and put the two collars together,” says Priska Blum. Living and working together works well for the married couple. “We already knew from our joint work in Switzerland that we were acting as a team. The work has to be shared and you have to let each other take responsibility, then it will work,” says his wife.

Lots of regulars

Initially, his daughters Corinne and Michelle also helped out at their parents’ campsite. The Blums currently have six part-time employees and have managed to attract a large number of regular guests from Switzerland, the Netherlands and Germany. They settled well and quickly in the village, maintained contact with the local population, shopped locally, had only positive experiences with the authorities and felt well received.

At first they were viewed somewhat critically when it became known that the campsite was managed by the new owners, the Swiss. Vinzenz and Priska Blum agree that this soon subsided. “It took us some time to get used to the direct nature of the Germans at first, but the people in the Black Forest are not that different from the Lucerne hinterland and it is just as beautiful here in Switzerland,” says Vinzenz Blum. Blums finds Switzerland a bit too hectic now that they are far from Switzerland, and they agree with a smile. “You only realize this when you leave the system and live in another country. This broadens the horizon,” says Vinzenz Blum.

successor already set

The Blums did not regret their decision to emigrate. Priska Blum: “We are happy and grateful for what we have been able to establish here.” The couple has long been preparing for the future: two years ago, their daughter Michelle (28) and later husband Hashmatullah Betab (32) moved from Switzerland to Germany. The young married couple lives in the second flat of their parents’ house and works at the campsite. “We have a harmonious relationship and it’s going very well,” says Papa Blum.

Although Betab already has gastronomy experience, Michelle, a trained medical assistant, works in a completely different field for her. “I enjoy it and have been involved with the company from the very beginning,” she says. She and her husband are expecting their first child in September. This means that the next generation will grow up in the campground. Michelle Blum: “It’s so nice that a child can grow up here and grandparents as well as parents can be close caregivers and help with care.” In addition to their new parenting responsibilities, Michelle and her husband will take over the campground from their parents in 2024, after which they will have primary responsibility.

After the takeover, Priska and Vinzenz Blum will slow down in the company. “Then we will have a little more time and we can visit our daughter Corinne, who lives with her family in France, at our mobile home and enjoy our granddaughter Melody there.”

Source : Blick