Alpine Resort Won’t Open in 2020

Bill Bertschinger’s family has owned and operated the Alpine Resort since it opened in 1922. Photo by Len Villano.

For the first time since 1922 the Alpine Resort will not be welcoming guests to the Egg Harbor shore this summer.

The Bertschinger family, which opened the resort in 1922, said the inability to confirm their staff of international summer workers made it impossible to open the resort. It’s still possible the golf course will open if restrictions are lifted, and the family will continue to rent about a dozen homes this summer.

“We can do that without a lot of staff,” said Bill Bertschinger. “But we need 100 employees to staff the resort.” 

Bertschinger took a break from moving a refrigerator to answer questions about the decision to close this year. Born in 1927, Bertschinger has worked at the resort his entire life. 

Like many Door County businesses, the Alpine relies on many international workers who come to the county via the J-1 visa program. The date for those workers to come to the county has been pushed back to June 1, but even that date is highly uncertain. 

As a result, rather than spending April gearing up for the summer season, the family is calling guests to cancel their reservations.