Klara Sólveig Jónsdóttir and Sigurður Friðriksson founded the Bakkaflöt Tourist Service in 1987 and the site has been gradually built up since then. It started with a few rooms, a dining room and a campsite. In 1990, two summer houses were added and more rooms were added to the main building. In 1993, the glaciers were explored as a new recreation option, but river rafting was not offered on the East and West Glacial Rivers until 1996.