Laukhard was born in Wendelsheim where his father Philipp Burkhard Laukhard served as pastor.
Philipp Heinrich Hörlein (June 5, 1882 in Wendelsheim in Rhenish Hesse – 23 May 1954 in Wuppertal), was a German entrepreneur, scientist, lecturer and Nazi Wehrwirtschaftsführer.
The name "Devil's Slide" was inspired by a local tale, according to which the residents of Wendelsheim (a nearby village) once tricked the devil into sliding down the stony slope on his bare bottom.