Just in time before the start of the Styrian semester break on February 21, the winter in Schladming-Dachstein provides us with a good portion of fresh snow and a real “powder feeling”. Currently, we are not only happy about the fresh snow at the Falkensteiner Hotel Schladming – the Planai-Hochwurzen cable cars are also celebrating their 50th anniversary this year!
On this occasion, we would like to give you a short review of the history of the famous ski resort.
From “Trücherl” to 10-seater main cable car
At the very beginning, there was no talk of passenger transportation. One spoke of the “Trücherl”, a material ropeway for transporting milk. However, it was soon recognized how practical the ropeway was also for passenger transportation. With the commissioning of the first Planai cable car on December 21, 1972, a dream came true that allowed the full potential of winter tourism at that time to be exploited.
Barely 10 years after the opening, in 1982, Schladming was already allowed to host the Alpine Ski World Cup and in 1996 the famous Night race took place for the very first time!
In the following years, the ski area and its infrastructure was expanded more and more and became a member of Ski Amadé, one of the largest winter sports areas in Europe.
2013 was the last time that the region and the Planai-Hochwurzen lifts were the focus of the world’s attention: Schladming was once again the venue for the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. For 2 weeks, the town around and with the Planai was in a state of emergency and was in the spotlight of winter sports.
Meanwhile, numerous expansions and new attractions follow almost every year. Maybe you have already spent a (ski) day on the Planai/Hochwurzen and know what has been built recently ;). If not, here are a few highlights of the last years:
- 2013 Construction of the 10-seater gondola Gipfelbahn Hochwurzen
- 2016 Construction of the 8er Burgstallalm lift
- 2019 Construction of the Planai 10er main gondola lift. The new construction of the Planai lift, including the construction of a new mid and top station, was the largest single investment in the company’s history and is considered a generation project.
- 2020 Construction of the Planai 8-seater Lärchkogel lift. A terrace was built at the top station where guests can experience both the mountain panorama and insider insights into the ropeway technology.
The easily accessible ski mountains are perfect for young and old – whether for skiing, snowboarding, (winter) hiking, touring, biking, or racing around in the Hopsi (winter) Kinderland. And if you don’t want to choose a mountain: the Planai is located in the middle of the 4-mountain ski area, which connects the Hauser Kaibling, the Planai, the Hochwurzen, and the Reiteralm to a continuous skiing pleasure with 123 carefully prepared kilometers of slopes! Variety guaranteed! The Adventure Mountain is not only the perfect choice in winter – but there is also plenty to discover here in summer.
And the very best? From the Falkensteiner Hotel Schladming, it is only 600 meters to the valley station Planet Planai & the ski and snowboard rental Bründl Sports.
On the slopes, ready, go! 😉
Cover image: (c) Herbert Raffalt
