Schönauer Hof Motorbike hotel in Schönau bei Holzgau / Lechtal Valley - Hahntenn Pass / Tyrol / Austria

The year was 1975 when Peter and Ilse Bürskens finally decided to prioritize building a new hotel in the Lechtal Valley over purchasing an existing one in Warth. This decision also sealed the fate of the family, who would move with all their belongings to Lechtal. For young Kai, who was only five at the time, this was no problem initially. However, it became one in 1980 when the big move meant leaving behind all friends and acquaintances in their former hometown, a small town in Swabia named Ebersbach.

The new life was a completely different world, with nothing but meadows and forests for young Kai. What would mark his entire life was the paradise that the perfect natural surroundings offered to children and teenagers on two wheels. Every school-age child owned some type of moped, and it didn’t take long for young Kai to catch the fever of mixed-fuel combustion.

His first motorized vehicle was a Puch Maxi, but within weeks, his lack of driving skills led to its replacement by an MV 50. From there, he moved through Zündapp and Kreidler, finally reaching his first legal moped, a Sachs TC 50. The years went by, and it was time to decide on a career path.

With gentle encouragement from his parents, Kai chose a career in the hospitality industry. However, his main interests remained focused on girls, motorcycles, and a healthy mix of both - parties. At the tender age of 17, Kai was in the middle of his culinary apprenticeship when a friend offered him a motorcycle - a Kawasaki LTD 450 became his new love. He rode it for a year, showcasing much talent but no driver’s license. As a trained chef, he then went to work seasonally, initially accompanied by a Yamaha RD 250. From that point, his job and his motorcycle changed nearly every year.

Toward the late 1990s, things became serious when Peter and Ilse, now nearing retirement, wanted to hand over the well-established Schönauer Hof, a cross-country skiing and hiking hotel, to their hopeful son. However, Kai was still more interested in parties, girls, and motorcycles. This carefree lifestyle was to come to an end, but Kai initially rejected the offer. His father suggested he reconsider and, if he did take over, to run the business in his own way.

The idea of blending his passion with his future work convinced Kai, and he suddenly became an innkeeper overnight. On May 1, 1999, the Schönauer Hof officially transitioned from a hiking hotel to a biker hotel. The drawback was that the previous clientele was discouraged and quickly disappeared, and a new customer base had to be established. Amazingly, by summer 2000, it was already a record-breaking season in terms of overnight stays. The conversion of the hotel was relatively simple since the large underground garage served as an essential foundation, and the rest came down to acquired know-how.

Known as the "Lechtal Biker Innkeeper" in no time, Kai continued to switch motorcycles as often as he changed his underwear, with a remarkable variety. Between 2000 and 2007 alone, he rode the following machines: Kawasaki GPZ, Yamaha Drag Star Classic 1100, Yamaha XT 350, Yamaha Drag Star 650, Honda Transalp, BMW 1150 GS, KTM 950 Adventure, and BMW 1200 GS Adventure, and Triumph Speed Triple 1050. He still rides the last two bikes at the time of this writing.

Kai spent several years as a member of the MSC Lechtal, a club initially founded to earn racing licenses, which disbanded in 2006. He is also the founder and president of the MF Hot Wheels Austria, the only and very active motorcycle club in Lechtal today. For the family, both business and leisure activities revolve around motorcycles.

From 2001 through 2004, the Schönauer Hof hosted the legendary Lechtal Biker Meet, drawing thousands of bikers to Lechtal each year. For five years, Kai, together with the "Motorradcenter Wolf," organized children’s and youth motocross races. Now that the biker innkeeper has calmed down, he has more time for the essentials. Kai spends up to six days a week with his guests, riding the most scenic routes across five countries, ensuring that everyone is well taken care of upon their return to the hotel each evening. His excellent team gives him the support he needs. Nowadays, large events are organized only by request for dealers, manufacturers, and clubs, while smaller parties are enjoyed in the cozy house bar. Alongside tours, other focuses at the Biker Hotel Schönauer Hof now include riding techniques and safe, enjoyable motorcycling. What remains from the wild party days is his love for motorcycling and the 13 Apostles logo. The 13A MoHo Hotel Schönauer Hof is still known throughout Europe in connection with the 13 Apostles - a story in its own right.