Plan de Corones Unveils Massive Modernization Project: Three New Lifts and Expanded Slope Network Set for Winter 2026/2027

Plan de Corones (Kronplatz), widely regarded as one of the most technologically advanced ski resorts in the Italian Dolomites, has officially launched a sweeping renovation plan ahead of the 2026/2027 winter season. As the resort transitions into its summer hiking and bike park operations, construction crews are already moving forward on a series of major capital investments that include three state-of-the-art lift systems and a substantial expansion of the mountain’s trail network.

Technical Specifications & Data Overview (Winter 2026/2027)

New Infrastructure Systems

Kronplatz 1 Cable Car (Leitner 10-Passenger Gondola)

• Base Station: 975 m | Intermediate Station: 1,500 m

• Inclined Length: 1,819 m | Line Speed: 6.5 m/s

• Capacity: 3,250 passengers/hour

Kronplatz 2 Cable Car (Leitner 10-Passenger Gondola)

• Intermediate Station: 1,500 m | Summit Station: 2,271 m

• Inclined Length: 2,176 m | Line Speed: 6.5 m/s

• Capacity: 3,250 passengers/hour

Ruis Cable Car (Doppelmayr 8-Passenger Gondola)

• Base Station (Furcia Pass): 1,752 m | Summit Station: 2,277 m

• Inclined Length: 1,568 m | Line Speed: 6.0 m/s

• Capacity: 3,600 passengers/hour

Dolomiti Chairlift (Doppelmayr 8-Seater High-Speed)

• Base Station: 1,853 m | Summit Station: 2,186 m

• Inclined Length: 1,356 m | Line Speed: 5.0 m/s

• Capacity: 3,000 passengers/hour

New & Revised Pistes

• Lumen Track: 2.7 km | Intermediate/Advanced (Red) | 775 m Vertical Drop

• Weiden Track: 650 m | Beginner (Blue) | 45 m Vertical Drop

• Dolomites Track: 1.5 km | Beginner (Blue) | 333 m Vertical Drop

The multi-pronged upgrade is designed to enhance skier traffic management, maximize passenger comfort, and cut down carbon footprints across three distinct sectors of the mountain: Riscone-Brunico, San Vigilio di Marebbe, and Valdaora.

The Flagship Project: Overhauling the Historic Kronplatz 1+2

The centerpiece of the 2026/2027 upgrades is the complete reconstruction of the historic Kronplatz 1+2 gondola lift, the primary artery carrying skiers from the Riscone-Brunico base to the mountain plateau. Designed and built by ropeway industry giant Leitner, the old lift will be replaced by a modern 10-passenger gondola system featuring internal ski and snowboard racks.

While the new lift will retain the existing valley and summit stations, engineers are shifting the intermediate station further down the mountain, lowering it from its current 1,850-meter mark to an altitude of roughly 1,500 to 1,530 meters. This structural repositioning will significantly optimize skier distribution across the slopes and open up real estate for newly designed terrain.

From a performance and environmental standpoint, the new Kronplatz 1+2 will travel 10% faster than its predecessor and push operational capacity to a staggering 3,250 people per hour. By incorporating Leitner’s direct-drive motor technology, the resort expects to lower energy consumption by up to 20%, while more than halving the total number of support towers along the lift line to minimize the visual impact on the Alpine landscape.

To complement the lift, Plan de Corones is drastically reworking the local trail layout:

• The Lumen Run: The existing red-rated Lumen piste is being completely redesigned and extended to terminate at the new lower intermediate station. The updated trail will stretch 2.7 kilometers with a 775-meter vertical drop, supported by a newly installed snowmaking grid featuring 22 automated snow guns.

• The Weiden Run: A brand-new, 650-meter blue-rated connector slope called "Weiden" will bridge the gap between the old intermediate station zone and the new Lumen run. It will be served by 10 newly positioned snow lances to ensure consistent early-season coverage.

San Vigilio Upgrades to the High-Speed Ruis Gondola

On the San Vigilio di Marebbe side of the mountain, the aging Ruis lift is being retired to make way for a next-generation 8-passenger Doppelmayr gondola system.

The new Ruis lift, which connects the Furcia Pass to the 2,277-meter summit of Plan de Corones, will boast a 15% increase in operational line speed and push capacity to 3,600 passengers per hour. Mirroring the design philosophy of modern European resorts, ski transport will be brought entirely inside the cabins to accelerate boarding times. The lift will also debut a cutting-edge digital monitoring system designed to maximize safety and mechanical oversight during high-wind winter storm cycles.

Premium Comfort on the Valdaora Side: The New Dolomiti Chairlift

Skiers accessing the mountain via the Valdaora side will see the debut of the Dolomiti chairlift, an ultra-premium eight-seater detachable chairlift engineered by Doppelmayr.

Connecting an elevation of 1,853 meters to the 2,186-meter summit station, the Dolomiti lift will be heavily focused on luxury and family safety. The carriers will feature integrated seat and backrest heating, protective weather bubbles to shield riders from sub-zero winds, and an automated conveyor loading carpet with a hydraulic raising platform, making it significantly safer and easier for young children to board.

The lift will debut alongside the new Dolomites track, a 1.5-kilometer blue run offering a wide, gentle, and highly scenic cruiser route specifically tailored for beginners, ski schools, and relaxed progression.

All three ropeway installations and their accompanying slopes are slated to stay under construction through the summer and fall, with Plan de Corones confirming everything will be fully operational ahead of the resort's projected late-November opening for the 2026/2027 ski season.