The History of NaturMed Hotel Heckenmühle
Originally this hotel was a mill, first documented in 1586. It was located in front of a hedge and so it was called "Heckenmühle" (“Hedges Mill”). It was, later converted into a restaurant and then into a hotel. Today, the original Heckenmühle is part of the NaturMed Group, which has its headquarters in Turkey. The Heckenmühle has now become the NaturMed Country Hotel.
- 1586 – The first mention of the Heckenmühle Mill in a document.
- Up to 1870 – Heckenmühle is a functioning flour mill. Subsequently auctioned for economic reasons.
- Early 1900 – Converted into a paint mill.
- 1925 – Taken over by Mr. Stiehl. Rebuilt and and opened as a restaurant.
- 1930- 31 – The restaurant goes bankrupt. Adolf Ortmann purchases the mill.
- 1934 – Adolf Ortmann junior acquires the restaurant.
- 1939 – Adolf Ortmann Junior is drafted into the armed forces and the restaurant is closed.
- Up to 1954 – The Heckenmühle building is used to house refugees. From 1954 onwards the rooms become available again and are let to people visiting the nearby spa.
- 1959 – The attic area is developed into guest rooms.
- 1961-1962 – Construction of the house in Teichstraße 2 with guest rooms and treatment rooms. This becomes known as the Heckenmühle Kneipp Spa.
- 1969 – The indoor swimming pool is constructed and the building is taken over by Christa and Rainer Ortmann.
- 1970 – Gerhard Ortmann, a masseur and lifeguard, takes over the rooms and establishes a massage practice. He manages this practice for over 30 years, until 2002.
- 1976 – A tennis court and sauna are constructed.
- 2000 – An Ayurvedic department is established.
- 2001 – The hotel achieves a superior “3 stars superior” classification.
- 2003 – The seminar rooms are established.
- 2004 – The sauna area is developed to include a steam sauna and infrared sauna cabin.
- 2006 – The physiotherapy practice is renovated and the wellness and health department expanded.
- 2009 – A combined heat and power plant is installed.
- 2018 – NaturMed Hotel GmbH acquire the hotel to re-establish it as a major holistic wellness destination, following the concept of the original, NaturMed Thermal Springs and Spa Resort in Turkey