As the highest elevation of the former district of Weimar in the Grand Duchy of Saxony-Weimar-Eisenach from 1895 is the Kickelhahn at Ilmenau with its 861 meters. The pure air and the impressive natural environment attract more and more people to relax in the area, so that the government in 1909 finally the planning for the construction of a hotel in the nearby Gabelbachtal begins.

Despite the most difficult conditions, the construction work is proceeding rapidly. Three years later, in 1912, the "Kurhotel Gabelbach" opened, which now serves the upscale companies for summer recreation. With the development of winter sports in the Thuringian Forest, more and more sports enthusiasts use the Gabelbach as the starting point for extensive ski tours through the wintry surroundings.

From wartime, the house is spared, so that the original character of the house despite moving years is always preserved. After 1950, the house served as a rest home for the GDR party leadership and for foreign state guests and was from then on inaccessible to the public. It has been accessible to all since 1990. Under the name "Berg- & Jagdhotel Gabelbach" it is now being gradually modernized - an extension offers more comfortable rooms.

Since 2011 the hotel is owned by the regional entrepreneur Peter Schulz. Under him, the house including its facilities in 2013 undergo a complete renovation. The historic charm of the architecture and the firm connection to the culture and nature of the environment are intended to appeal to future guests at a high level of quality, but above all to make the urine of the house and its splendor with all senses palpable again.