Lapland entrepreneur Sampo Kaulanen realized his big dream of his own resort. According to him, more than ten million euros of money has been burned. We went to see what it looked like on site.
Sampo Kaulanen46, sold Jouni’s store to Kesko in spring 2023. It opened up a completely new kind of life for the busy Lapland entrepreneur. In the course of a year and a half, the holiday center Jänkä Resort has been built on his family’s land, which opened its doors on Saturday, November 29.
A night at the place costs from 800 euros to more than 1500 euros.
– This is my final investment place, declares entrepreneur Sampo Kaulanen, who is presenting the place.
Thirteen premium-level villas, a newly opened restaurant in Safaritalo and corrals for huskies, horses and reindeer have gone up in the family’s powerhouse, Konijänkä’s meadows, for over ten million euros. The whole family is fully involved in the project. Sampo Kaulanen had a vision of the resort during a vomiting vacation at an ayuasca retreat.
– There came the vision of what kind of place the place should become. I want to do good in this place and make it easier for others.
The interest has pleased the entrepreneur: the villas are almost sold out until the beginning of the year.
The opening of Jänkä Resort was celebrated on November 27. Celebrity chef Hans Välimäki has designed the concept of the restaurant. Elle Laitila
There are currently 13 apartments available in the holiday village. – Next night I’m going to pick up a French tube player from the field, who has just under four million subscribers, says Sampo Kaulanen. Elle Laitila
The apartments have large windows, which can be covered with electric curtains if necessary. Kaulanen says he has invested more than 40,000 euros per wool in window technology. Elle Laitila
Toilet bowl from the future
The unique houses jutting out in the middle of nature in an arc-shaped formation are designed in such a way that there is no window view of each other. Kaulanen urges further.
Right from the hall, you get to the bathroom, which has a 4,500-euro Singaporean miracle puller.
– This toilet bowl washes and dries the toilet bowl. All you have to do is sit down, and potty will take care of everything. The cover also closes by itself, Kaulanen describes.
And those present watch in silence how this actually happens. Then Kaulanen digs out a remote control with which the toilet handle can be used to release various functions.
This is what a toilet bowl from the “future” looks like. Elle Laitila
The bathroom basin is made of recycled materials and the shape of the mirror imitates the nearby lake. Elle Laitila
The bathroom and sauna rooms have a view of the jacuzzi on the terrace.
Soon we reach the living room, from which a view of the forest opens up to the heavens through the walls of windows.
– From here you can watch the northern lights in the warmth of the fireplace.
The shape of the nearby lake is repeated in the mirror frames and in the wall pattern in the living room. The wool is warmed by ground heat.
– Everything is handmade from natural materials and recycled materials. Kitchen furniture is carpentry. There are no Ikea brands here.
A bed like Stubb’s
The upstairs bedroom has a huge bed, the kind Sampo Kaulanen says he’s been looking for for a long time. The entrepreneur finally decided that he wanted the same bed as the hotel in Kämp.
– I called the Jensen bed brand and was told that royals sleep in these beds and also By Alexander Stubb is such a bed. We took similar ones, says Kaulanen.
– The villas at Jänklä Resort have the same beds as the president of Finland, says Sampo Kaulanen. Elle Laitila
According to entrepreneur Sampo Kaulanen, the value of one wool is more than half a million euros. – I don’t know the exact amount, because I’m lazy to count. Elle Laitila
One thing worries him.
– How do people know how to use all this technology that is in this house, he rattles off the monitor, which can be used to adjust the curtains, lighting and heating of the house, among other things.
Kaulanen says he instructed his staff to help.
Sampo Kaulanen says he will put all his money into the project, and guesses the final amount to be 30 million euros. He says that the expenses kept increasing along the way. He envisions more reforms for Jänkä Resort: a sanatorium with its own yoga room and which could function as a retreat center.
– Probably at least 15 million euros have gone into all of this. I received 1.4 million euros in EU support, I took a loan from the bank and I have paid the rest myself.
He stresses that luxury is, however, relative. Many of the international guests are used to luxurious five-star surroundings.
– That luxury is not necessarily the same as a toilet bowl made of gold, but the personal experiences for the guests. The fact that they get to do things in small groups. We spend time with them.
The entire family of entrepreneur Sampo Kaulanen is involved in Jänkä Resort’s operations, and Minttu’s wife is also a partner. Elle Laitila