Korvala’s Long Tradition in Tourism

Lapland’s famous route from Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle to the northern coast of Europe developed from a pot-holed path to the busy Arctic Ocean Passage during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The actual carriageway was built on and off over the course of fifty years, partly as a form of emergency employment during years of crop failure, first reaching Sodankylä by the end of the 19th century. With the carriageway came the coaching inns, usually ten to fifteen kilometres apart, providing places to sleep and eat along the route for both man and horse alike.

Korvala’s Crown Forest Estate was established in 1889 at a suitable spot along the new road on the Crown lands of Kemihaara. Situated half way between Rovaniemi and Sodankylä, the beautiful lake scenery and close proximity of the rapids of Raudanjoki River provided perfect conditions for the site of a coaching inn. Here, travellers were entertained and the sauna was warmed as needed. Produce from the estate was served at the table and sold to the travellers for their journey and stables for twelve horses provided them with well-deserved shelter.

The present innkeepers are the third generation to be looking after the business since 1911, when Juho Pekka Nampa and his wife Hanna bought the tenancy for Korvala Estate. They had recently returned from working in the copper mining communities of Michigan where Hanna gained valuable practical experience as a mine president’s house keeper. Juho was a descendant of the oldest family of the Nampa region north of Rovaniemi which first settled near Korvala in 1733, and like many, he too had travelled to America aiming to make his fortune. Back in Lapland, Juho and Hanna now applied themselves to the task of developing the inn and its farm, using the experiences and resources gained in America to their full advantage. In the 1930’s Korvala achieved independent status as an ancestral estate.

In 1945 Korvala had to be rebuilt after the destruction at the end of the Second World War. Juho and Hanna’s youngest daughter Eliisi and her husband Kasper Näsi took over. In order to develop their facilities further they needed electricity so they constructed their own small hydro-electric power station on the Säynäjäjoki River. They also started the first petrol service between the towns of Rovaniemi and Sodankylä and expanded their accommodation facilities to include a hostel, cabins and a campsite to cater for the needs of the times. The fish stock in their lakes was developed and in the new main house there was a hardware and grocer’s shop, a bakery and a cafe.

Their youngest son Seppo took hold of the reins in 1978 and later with his wife, Jaana, started to bring the traditional coaching inn culture back to the forefront. One of the few remaining log houses in the region to survive the war was carefully rebuilt and restored. This currently offers meeting and dining facilities. Their research into the clothing tradition of the 1800’s has also enabled the villagers to make costumes replicating the forgotten styles of yesteryear.

At Korvala, the central Lapland culture, the yeoman spirit, the family’s traditions and international ties are all a significant part of its atmosphere. In addition, Korvala is surrounded by Lapland’s wilderness, with all its great opportunities for adventure.