Historia

Lehmonkärki was already known in the past centuries as a naturally beautiful place on the shore of Lake Päijänne. It was named (Lehmonkärki means Linden Tree Cape) from wild linden trees growing in the area. Fishermen and youth of the local villages especially remember Haavankallio Cliff where people gathered to spend time together. The first steamship for Lake Päijänne, S/S Suomi, was built at the Vähä-Äiniö bay in 1866. One of Finland’s oldest money hoards was also found in the area: gold coins from the Viking era.p>

In mid 1960’s Aune and Antti Yrjölä had a vision of people some day having more free time to spend wonderful time on the shore of Lake Päijänne. The first round log cottage was built in 1967 and eight more were built in the 1970’s. The cottages included a sauna, a combined living room and kitchen as well as an alcove for beds. VIP Villa Isohaapa was built in 1977. It was mainly used as a sauna facility and a party venue for small family parties. Ari Yrjölä became the new master of the Yrjölä Farm and Lehmonkärki in mid 1980’s. Ari started to determinedly develop Lehmonkärki. Three large villas (Aallotar, Ilmatar and Tuuletar) were built in 1990–1991. After that, new villas were built almost every year and the original cottages were demolished. New tourists and more corporate events came to Lehmonkärki every year. Catering and programme services offered all year round were added to the product selection.

New millennium brought with it new ideas

VIP Villa Isohaapa was built in 1998 and a dance pavilion was built in connection with the main building the same year. The Log Fortress was completed in 1999. The VIP villas were built in the beginning of the new millennium, and Hunting Lodge and Haanokki in 2005.

Renovating the stone barn into restaurant and meeting venue Ometta took almost two years. Ometta was opened in September 2006. The villas have been renovated and decorated based on the current trends in 2007 and 2008. An annex to the downstairs of the main building, Isohaapa, and a new villa for sixteen persons will be finished in 2009.

Currently, approximately 20,000 people visit Lehmonkärki annually. We aim at making our services more versatile all the time, and Lehmonkärki has become a high-class meeting, holiday and party venue.