‘Sound of Music’ Fans: Did You Know the Real von Trapp Family Lived in New England?
Everyone knows the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The Sound of Music, and the 1965 film of the same name.
The story tells of Maria, a young postulant sent to the home of widowed naval officer Captain von Trapp to work as a governess for his seven unruly children. As she brings joy, laughter, and music back into the home, Maria wins over the hearts of the children, and eventually the Captain himself. Soon after the pair get married, the family flees Austria in response to the rise of the Nazis on the eve of World War II.
Many know that The Sound of Music, with its memorable melodies like "Do Re Mi", "My Favorite Things", and the title song (of course), is loosely based on a true story. However, what you may not know is that the real von Trapps eventually came here to New England.
In 1942, a few years after evacuating Austria and arriving in the United States, the famous singing family settled on a 660-acre farm in Stowe, Vermont, according to Biography.com.
Ten years later, the von Trapp family started to welcome guests to their 27-room home and lodge, which would eventually become the Trapp Family Lodge. The original structure was damaged by a fire in 1980, but a new one was constructed in its place, and still stands today. The lodge is described on its website as a "striking, 96-room alpine lodge situated on 2,600 acres offering magnificent indoor and outdoor resort amenities."
The site also mentions that the hotel is still owned and operated by the von Trapp family and their descendants. How cool is that?
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