VALAIS MINI-SKI RESORT ON THE VERGE OF BANKRUPTCY AS BOARD CHAIRMAN VOWS TO FIGHT

The future of the Télé Evolène cable car company in the Valais' Eringertal valley hangs in the balance as the small resort faces impending bankruptcy. Operating four lifts across 41 kilometers of slopes, the mountain railway operator Télé Evolène SA has applied for a court-supervised debt moratorium following persistent financial shortfalls and a high-profile embezzlement case involving a former board member.

• The Chemeuille area offers an exceptional panorama facing the Dent-Blanche and the Matterhorn.Alpine skiing :

• The ski area offers approximately 42 km of slopes of all levels as well as a freeride area.Summer season :

• The chairlift is currently open to the public for the summer season since July 8, 2026. It operates daily until August 23, then from Wednesday to Sunday until September 20.

The resort’s financial distress came to a head last year after registering a loss of 300,000 Swiss francs. The company has struggled to regain its footing since 2022, when a former board member reportedly embezzled 545,000 Swiss francs over three years—an ongoing criminal case that left a deep deficit despite annual municipal subsidies exceeding 500,000 Swiss francs.

Board Chairman Vows Action Ahead of Crucial Vote

Despite the dire financial state, Patrick Fauchère, chairman of the board of directors since November 2025, remains defiant. The retired Air-Glaciers pilot insists that the resort's current situation is a temporary setback rather than a final shutdown, pledging to protect the area's four full-time and over 20 part-time positions.

"The debt moratorium is not the end, but only a setback," Fauchère told Blick. "The loss of the ski resort would be a blow to the region. In small areas, ski lifts like these are a kind of public service; that shouldn't be overlooked."

Fauchère added that the current board believes modernization and professional management can return the operator to profitability.

Restructuring Plans and Public Referendum

The resort’s long-term survival now hinges on the residents of the Evolène municipality, who will vote on several rescue and recapitalization packages in a local referendum on September 27, 2026.

Proposed restructuring measures and future upgrades include:

• Modernized Infrastructure: Replacing the existing two-seater chairlift with a modern gondola lift.

• Facility Renovations: Overhauling and updating the mountain restaurant.

• Capital Adjustments: Building upon the 2024 share capital increase from 2.2 million to 6.2 million Swiss francs to secure fresh funding.

• If voters reject the rescue packages, municipal financial backing will cease, and formal bankruptcy proceedings will immediately follow.