BLOCK Hotel & Living throughout the years

1962

The Scholzes took over the newly founded company AUTO UNION, the first factory canteen at that time located in the peace barracks (today seat of the tax office) on the Schanz. In the year 1960 they got the opportunity to take over the popular local hotel Uhlmann’s, on Münchenerstrasse in Ingolstadt. Almost parallel to this, Richard Scholze built a house in the north of Ingolstadt in 1962 - near the A9 motorway, where he planned to run his own hotel there with his wife Elisabeth and his daughter Renate.

In autumn, all construction work and facilities for the new Hotel Scholze in Ingolstadt were completed, the first guests arrived. An overnight stay cost DM 5.50 including Breakfast and morning coffee. We got the chance to admire the latest models of passing cars, which often stopped and then had a picnic by the side of the road!

1963

This was the year of the wedding of Renate and Karl-Heinz Block. Uhlmann celebrated the event under the two chestnut trees that still stand today!

1964

Daughter Ines was born.

1966

Claudia, the second daughter was born.

1977

The „three daughter“ house is now complete: Carolin arrived.

1980

The Scholze’s reached retirement and handed over the hotel to their daughter Renate Block, who, as the young mother of three daughters, took over the Hotel Scholze at Ziegeleistrasse 64.

That year, Hotel Scholze was renamed Hotel AMMERLAND, Ingolstadt. But why the name: Hotel Ammerland? Karl-Heinz Block was a salesman at Kaffee Hag AG Bremen, when he was transferred to Ingolstadt, with a view of later returning to northern Germany to further his career.

But things turned out differently! In the former Hotel Uhlmann (Ingolstadt, Münchner Strasse) Renate and Karl-Heinz met. It was love at first sight. The two decided to start a family in Ingolstadt.

1981

Demand for rooms was high. Soon the first extension was built.

1982

The new hotel had 50 beds at this stage, changed its name and was classified as a 3-star hotel by now calling itself "HOTEL AMMERLAND" - And that has a very simple explanation! After Karl-Heinz Block fell hopelessly in love with Bavaria, he wanted to create a hotel name, in Ingolstadt that reflected his roots. Ammerland is located in Lower Saxony, about 800 km from Upper Bavaria. It is home to Bad Zwischenahn on the Zwischenahner Sea, and is where the rest of the family still lives.

1990

Each year has new demands and we renovate and modernize constantly. When nearby plots of land became available it became possible for the owners to build the southern wing of the Ammerland. Another 30 beds were soon added.

1991

By 1991 people were starting to show more interest in the environment and the Ammerland won an award for being "Environmentally conscious hotel and restaurant business" which was presented by Bavarian State Minister Peter Gauweiler. This status was to become an ongoing project to be maintained and worked on in the following years.

1997

The Ammerland bar was opened and Carolin Block joined the family business, as a clerk, after completing her studies which included: management training, overseas study and business administration. From that point onwards, the bar started to serve exotic cocktails, Scotch whiskies and even Bavarian Whiskys for international guests.

2001

After marrying Christian in 2000, Carolin took over the Hotel Ammerland on 01.01.2001. Her targets were gastronomic developments as well as commercial expansion. From an early age, she had learned to be there for the guests at all times and to develop an eye for detail. Full of enthusiasm, the young couple planned their own major renovation and extended the hotel to create a new concept with a conference room and various themed rooms, as well as Ingolstadt's first "wellness suite" with a whirlpool in the middle of the room.

2004

A daughter, Victoria was born and completes the happiness of the family.

2006

The redesign with the various COMFORT themed rooms is a complete success and made an extension with penthouse possible. At the same time the German hotel classification for the Ammerländer was raised to 3-star SUPERIOR.

2008

The Ammerland was the first hotel in the state to receive the highest award for Service Quality Bavaria. Bavaria's Minister of Economic Affairs Martin Zeil and BHG President Sigfried Gallus then presented the first certificate for "Service Quality Germany" in Bavaria.

2009

ENVIRONMENTAL PACT BAVARIA - Hotel Ammerland qualified for environmentally sound economic growth and received the the document "Umweltpakt Bayern" from Bavarian Minister of State Dr. Ing. Markus Söder.

First Class in Ingolstadt - Ammerland got the 4th star. Alfred Lehmann, the Mayor of the city was visibly pleased when he was able to present the new 4-star plaque to Carolin Block.

2010

The times they are a-changing, comfort requirements were getting bigger and cars too! Two new SUV garages and an idyllic moai summer garden were added.

2013

The new AMMERWALD SPA & GYM was begun rising above the roofs of Ingolstadt. Everything revolved around holistic well-being: even the entrance is overwhelmed with its very special features. Here nature was brought into its most beautiful form - raw woods, old trunks, and untreated stone create a very special atmosphere. Hotel guests can relax in the Finnish sauna, the bio-scented sauna or in two infrared deep-heat cabins. For sports enthusiasts, there is top quality professional equipment from Techno-Gym at hand. Gym equipment is included for hotel guests.

2014

Unique and yet a team! - Hotel Ammerland joined the cooperation of private city hotels, it meets the high criteria and was included in the exclusive hotel network.

2015

At AMMERLAND no stone was left unturned and with her head full of ideas and with loving skill, Carolin Block ensured that there was always something new to discover in AMMERLAND. ARRIVE | RELAX | UNWIND - is the philosophy with which the young hotel boss and her "Ammerländer" receive their guests. The fact that this promise was also fulfilled, was proved by the numerous positive guest reviews and the high proportion of regular guests to the hotel.

2016

The year of planning! "Let’s get the show on the road!" That was the New Year’s Resolution! Carolin Block wanted to reach new heights! There were just too many plans and dreams for her to sit still! According to her personal favourite building in New York, the Guggenheim Museum, the new face of the Hotel Ammerland should be "round"! Something well rounded, so to speak! With an architect in place and with the expertise of Bauer urban planners the project started to take shape!

2017

The year of construction! 50% of the old hotel was demolished. A new underground car park plus 4 floors with high quality rooms and suites, a new lobby, reception, hotel bar and beautiful garden!

AND the step to the "new" name! The surname should now be at the forefront once again as requested by Carolin Block and family. Start for the new hotel: BLOCK Hotel & Living

2020

Pure relaxation in the new Garden-SPA. It’s always a delightful pleasure to be able to treat yourself to your own me-time whist travelling!

In order to offer our guests the necessary place of peace and quiet, the new BLOCK Garden SPA opened this year, with an additional relaxation room and more lounge areas in "Garden Design" - perfect for switching off!

2021

CORONA has had the world in its grip since 2020. On 18 March 2020, after an announcement by our Minister President Markus Söder, there was a SHUTDOWN in Bavaria. Entire lockdown. All businesses had to close. The entrepreneur (Unternehmerin) Carolin Block becomes a "Unterlasserin" for a while! This circumstance was difficult and therefore only tolerable for a short time. What followed was an exhausting 1 ½ years for all of us, right into 2021. Every day, week and later month is different. New regulations and changes every day. Home office became the "hotel office" for business travellers. As soon as we could open, we were open. Even if there were sometimes more staff than guests in the hotel. "The good thing," Carolin Block reports retrospectively, "that can develop from a crisis is greater solidarity, the feeling that we are ALL connected and responsible for each other! And let's be honest: a calm sea has never produced a talented sailor. Although after this time in rough waters, as a hotelier I would love to be a fair-weather captain again!"

2024

MODIFICATION! The summer months are also getting increasingly hot in Ingolstadt. The year 2023 was therefore used to air-condition 100% of the hotel. Air conditioning was retrofitted in the entire north wing and in the back of house. A great added value for our hotel, our guests and employees. New hotel bathrooms and completely new furniture for the hotel rooms in the north wing were also added by 2024, with exciting themes such as Fit-Rooms, Night Fever, Zero Gravity and long-awaited: Neundreiviertel ;o) The BLOCK Hotel & Living keeps its finger on the pulse, with creative ideas, passion and a lot of energy from Carolin and Victoria Block.