Øyer Gjestegård was started in 1978 by the then owner and operator Kjell Madsen. He had a vision of creating a restaurant and accommodation with soul and character. Kjell Madsen, together with his then wife, made decorations, furniture and equipment. This gave Gjestegården its distinctive character and it quickly became apparent after the opening on 1 July 1979 that this was a success.
At that time, the guesthouse had 16 rooms, a cafeteria, the octagonal and the banquet room Rødsalen. In 1982, Blåsalen opened and another 16 rooms. The last major expansion made by Kjell and Hjørdis Madsen was in 1987 with a water discotheque, which became very popular.
Hafjell Hotel & Apartments
In 1996, Viking Gruppen AS (now Wellegruppen AS) bought Øyer Gjestegård. On May 15, 2007, the name was changed to Hafjell Hotel & Apartments. In the years before the name change, the inn, kitchen and conference rooms were refurbished, and the hotel got a new fireplace lounge. In 2008, all rooms were renovated at the hotel, and in 2011 the restaurant was rebuilt into several cozy living rooms and a new buffet area. The hotel was also environmentally certified as an Eco-Lighthouse in the winter of 2011.
Hafjell Hotel, Gjestegården in Øyer
In 2017, Twinings Best Breakfast named Norway's best breakfast for 13 years in a row. Hafjell Hotel was the county winner in Oppland as the hotel with the best hotel breakfast, and it was the first time a hotel from the Lillehammer region won this competition. In June 2018, it became clear that Hafjell Hotel had managed to copy the feat and was once again named the hotel with the best hotel breakfast in Oppland.
In 2017, the hotel was renamed Hafjell Hotell AS, Gjestegarden in Øyer.
Hafjell Hotel currently has 45 double rooms and 8 suites.