2024-02-13 07:48:49
The Affenweng cable cars are one of the last family-run ski areas. The PN found out regarding current projects and challenges on site.
Nine lifts with a total length of 29 kilometers of slopes: The Affenweng family ski area attaches particular importance “also to the attractive offer for children to learn to ski in a playful way in the children’s area,” says Alois Rettenbacher, junior manager of the Barbarahof. The Rettenbacher family and the Ehrensberger family each hold 50 percent of the shares in Bergbahnenwerfenweng. Affenweng is one of the last regional ski areas of this size in family hands. “Due to our central location, we are still geographically the first ski resort in the state of Salzburg for many Salzburg residents from the city area and surrounding areas. Many of our day guests also come from Upper Austria and Bavaria.”
With Corona came the economic collapse
However, the effects of the tunnel construction site are clearly felt. “We had around a third fewer day guests in January than usual,” says operations manager Georg Lottermoser. However, they are proud that despite rising prices across Salzburg, they were still able to remain attractively priced with a day ticket price of 53.50 euros: “Before the corona pandemic, we had a record winter in terms of sales,” says Rettenbacher, “but the following winters brought economic problems – due to a lack of frequency and rising energy prices – a sharp decline.” It is all the more pleasing that in recent years they have invested in ecological and sustainable snowmaking with a new storage pond and over 1200 meters long, environmentally friendly pipes: “This ensures supply throughout the entire ski area and for the entire season right down to the valley.” , Lottermoser is pleased to have made an investment in the future for the next ten to 15 years.
Paragliders ensure summer operations
The Bischling (1834 m) is one of the most popular flying mountains in Austria. The many paragliders in particular have long been an additional important business pillar, especially in the summer season: “With the largest flight school in Austria and above-average weather safety on flyable days, we are known nationwide. Not necessarilywerfenweng, but the Bischling is known in the scene worldwide,” smiles Rettenbacher, himself an enthusiastic pilot, who emphasizes that without the many paragliders “the summer operation would not be financially viable and the permanent staff would be difficult to retain.” “I would like to see more awareness of this economic importance, because many companies in the region are also involved in this.” The mountain railways employ 25 people all year round and 40 during the winter season.
Progress at Strussingalm
In recent years, the lack of open hut operations has been a big issue: The Strussingalm on Ladenberg was bought by a Czech holding company and has been closed for years. The Nature Friends have been looking for a tenant for the Anton Proksch House for just as long. The house is in significant need of renovation. Volunteers there are currently taking on a kind of “self-sufficiency concept” for a certain period of time, “but that cannot be a permanent solution.” At the Strussingalm it was a lack of compensatory measures that had to be taken so far. “Pleasingly, there is currently progress on the new construction of the Strussingalm. Demolition work and subsequently a new building are scheduled to begin in the spring of this year.” We look forward to the new hotel building not far from the valley station of the Rosnerköpflbahn, emphasizes managing director Christian Ehrensberger. Two new hotels, restaurants, shops, 300 underground parking spaces and leisure activities are to be built here: “As the operator of the planned hotel buildings, the Styrian Jufa Group, a strong Austrian market leader in the area of youth and family tourism, is in the starting blocks,” says Ehrensberger.
In the near future, it is hoped that the Pongau cable car companies will be invited to meetings with Asfinag following the winter season, “so that improvements for the next winter season can be discussed. Also with regard to block handling and the safety concept,” says Ehrensberger.
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