Savor homemade fare at the storybook Obertal Inn

LEAVENWORTH – In the heart of downtown Leavenworth every morning, the aroma of freshly baked biscuits and homemade granola wafts through the air, inviting visitors to experience the charm of the Obertal Inn. At the helm of this cozy retreat is Hans Mulders, a man who could have easily stepped out of the pages of Pinocchio as the kindly Geppetto, bringing his passion for hospitality and homemade food to life.

Born in the Netherlands, and still carrying a faint Dutch, though idiomatic American, accent, Mulders was raised until the age of twelve in Ethiopia. Then, he and his thirteen-year-old sister navigated their way from Addis Ababa to Amsterdam alone, igniting a lifelong love for travel and adventure.

Mulders calling came as he served tables in a Dutch restaurant, a calling that eventually led him to the United States where he met his wife, Andrea. The two ranged the American hospitality landscape together, living and working in several states before settling in Leavenworth.

In 2010, the couple purchased the Obertal Inn and, over the past 14 years, have transformed it into a thriving enterprise, investing millions into capital upgrades and acquiring additional properties.

“It was just twenty-seven dated rooms,” recalls Mulders. “We built that up to a portfolio including the hotel, townhouses and vacation rentals.”  

As impressive as that is, Mulders still considers as one of his signature achievements the homemade breakfast served at the Obertal. He takes great pride in ensuring that every dish is crafted with care and from scratch. From the fresh, flaky buttermilk biscuits to the rich, savory sausage and sage gravy, Mulders believes that each bite speaks to his commitment to quality and tradition.

Even during the pandemic, Hans’ passion and creativity shone through with a to-go breakfast model, allowing guests to enjoy the Obertal’s culinary delights wherever they chose. This innovative approach proved so successful that it remains a practice at the hotel.

Visitors to the Inn, and locals alike, can enjoy a variety of traditional, homemade breakfast options, including waffles with strawberry or cinnamon apple compote, egg cups with sausage and biscuits, homemade granola with lemon curd and crème fraîche, and the signature homemade sausage and sage gravy. All offerings, served with coffee, milk, or orange juice, are available affordably.

“We don’t use readymade; we work from the raw product,” confirms Mulders. “We peel our own apples for the strudel, culture our own yogurt, and use the whey in our biscuits so we don’t have to buy buttermilk. It keeps quality high, prices low, and our people employed. It’s a win, win, win.”

Mulders’ story, much like Geppetto’s, is one of passion, dedication, and a little bit of magic. Guests come for the comfort, stay for the homemade food, and leave with a full heart.

Caroline Menna is an intern for Ward Media and a rising senior (Class of 2025) at Cascade High School. She will serve as Editor-in-Chief of the Cascade High School Publications Group for the 2024-2025 academic year.