Heike and Bert met in the early 1980's at an electronics company called LeCroy where Heike worked as an accountant and Bert worked as a computer programmer.  With a group of liked minded individuals, they would rent and organize a ski house for 6 months every winter.  It was after the group rented a ski house in Wilmington one winter that Heike and Bert decided to buy a house in Wilmington.

    While looking for houses, they discovered a B&B called the Snowed Inn that was for sale.  It was in November of 1988 that they decided to purchase the Snowed Inn and try the B&B business.  Heike gave up her job to run the Willkommen Hof B&B (as the new inn would be called), while Bert continued to work at LeCroy during the week and helped out at the Willkommen Hof on the weekends.

    During the ensuing years, Heike and Bert continued to upgrade the B&B by adding more rooms with private baths, a 3 room suite with jacuzzi,  and a 2 room apartment with kitchen and jacuzzi bath.  They also changed their smoking policy to become one of the first smoke free establishments in the area.  They also decided to become a pet friendly B&B along with providing internet access for their guests.

     In 2001, Bert decided to leave LeCroy to start a consulting business and to spend more time at the B&B.  During this time, he also obtained a NYS Guide's License and started to provide guests with guided trips for fishing, mountain biking, hiking, cross country skiing and snow shoeing.