The Königsberg ski area in Hollenstein an der Ybbs (Amstetten district) faces an uncertain future. The lift owner wants to sell the facilities and has issued an ultimatum to the lift operator.
In total, there are six lifts in the Königsberg ski area, along with snow cannons and piste grooming machines. These were purchased years ago from the Ybbstal Business Park. According to managing director Werner Krammer (ÖVP) – who is also the mayor of Waidhofen an der Ybbs – this was only a temporary solution to provide support during a difficult period. The plan to sell the lifts to the lift operator has been in place for some time.
Ski lift operator Herbert Zebenholzer must now submit an offer by October 15. If that is not successful, other buyers will be sought, explains Krammer. However, they could possibly dismantle the lifts and use them elsewhere, as happened two years ago with the neighboring Forsteralm in Upper Austria.
According to Zebenholzer, he and his team are fighting to preserve the ski area. Ultimately, the entire region would benefit from it. The lift operator also points to the summer operations for mountain bikers, which have been well received as a second source of income.
Meanwhile, the future of the Mariazeller Bürgeralpe ski area on the Styrian side is secure. According to managing director Johann Kleinhofer, there are investors who want to take over the operation with year-round offerings. Details are expected to be presented in the coming weeks.