1877 - 1890

Ole Kvigne bought the Holmen guest house in 1877. It was gradually enlarged into Kvikne's Hotel. Together with his wife Kari and brother Knut, he extended the guest house in 1880, 1884 and again in 1885. That was the real beginning of Balestrand as a tourist resort.

1890 - 1900

Towards the end of the 1880s Norway, and especially the fjords of western Norway, became the new popular travel destination and Ole Kvikne realised that he had to build a "proper" hotel. The German born architect and painter Franz W. Schiertz designed the hotel, which stood ready in 1890.

By the early 1890s the flow of tourists from England and Germany was increasing and Ole Kvikne decided once more to increase capacity.  This time he decided to build a new, large hotel building 20-30 metres from the first. This new building was completed in 1894 and is actually the oldest part of the present day hotel.

1900 - 1914

In the summer seasons up to the first world war Balestrand settled into the image of a popular resort.

Many people, both Norwegians and foreigners, lost their hearts to this verdant parish beside the Sognefjord. Keiser Wilhelm II was an enthusiastic visitor for many years. To show his gratitude and admiration, he donated the monument at Vangsnes to the legendary King Fridtjov, which was unveiled in 1913.

In 1912 the old hotel building on the western side was demolished. A new Swiss style building was erected, joined to the 1894 building, and the completed hotel, which was ready in 1913, now offered 200 beds.  Kvikne's was the first Fjord Hotel in the country. Its characteristic façade soon became a landmark for visitors to the fjord

1914 - 1945

In 1916 Ole Kvikne's son Sigurd took over the hotel management. Sigurd is the present manager's grandfather. The guest books bear witness to increasing numbers of visitors from America and, apart from the years of the first world war and the depression, the hotel's business grew steadily. In 1935 Sigurd Kvikne died suddenly and his wife Marta took over. The hotel's reputation grew, both in Norway and abroad, and Balholm became a meeting point for people and boats alike.

1945 - 1975
After the second world war tourism began to flourish again and interest in the hotel was renewed. And Kvikne's guest books have never been short of celebrities. In the post-war years the emperor and empress of Japan and British prime minister Clement Atlee were here. In 1956 Per Kvikne joined his mother in the running of the hotel. The numbers of tour buses increased throughout the 50s, whilst the new airport in Bergen improved connections from abroad. The hotel had the new experience of having to turn guests away. The first stage of a new building in concrete was therefore completed by 1965, its architecture typical of its time. By 1973 the third and last stage was completed, increasing capacity to 400 beds.

1975 - 2005
Per Kvikne died in 1991. His wife Mulla is still actively involved in the hotel management. Now a new generation has taken over the family heritage of Ole and Kari Kvikne. Sigurd Kvikne is the general manager, together with sisters Marta and Kari.

History has always been an important part of the Kvikne's Hotel experience. The generations have taken good care of antiques and artworks, which give the hotel its special charm and atmosphere today.