€15 Million Investment: Glungezer Ski Resort Set for Major Modernization

The Glungezer ski area is poised for a transformative upgrade as plans for a new €15 million chairlift have been finalized. Announced on April 15, 2026, the project will see the retirement of the iconic but aging Schartenkogel lift, which has reached the end of its 40-year service life.

The Schartenkogel lift at the Glungezer ski area,  has served skiers for almost four decades, is due to be replaced after reaching the end of its service life. Operators have secured financing for the €15 million project; only the necessary permits remain to be granted. If approvals proceed on schedule, the new lift is expected to be operational next winter.

The investment marks a turning point for the resort, moving it away from legacy infrastructure and toward a more competitive, high-capacity future.

The center-piece of the project is a state-of-the-art six-seater chairlift designed to replace the old facility, whose operating permit is set to expire. The new lift will significantly improve the skier experience by streamlining the ascent through a key sector of the mountain.

Project Specifications:

• Route: From the Kalte Kuchl valley station to the Schartenkogel mountain station.

• Capacity: High-speed six-person seating to reduce wait times.

• Investment: €15 million.

• Timeline: Operational by the 2026/2027 winter season (pending final permits).

• "A Fully-Fledged Resort"

The municipality of Tulfes, which co-owns the cable car company, has been a driving force behind the financing. Mayor Martin Wegscheider emphasized that this upgrade is about more than just a new lift—it is about the resort's identity.

"With the completion of this project, the Glungezer area will finally become a fully-fledged ski resort," Wegscheider stated.

Despite its small size, 23 kilometers of pistes, the Glungezer ski resort is home to one of the longest descents in Tirol with a length of 15 kilometers from top to bottom. The comfortable 10-seater gondola takes skiers directly from the valley station to the Halsmarter middle station in just 6.5 minutes. From there you can take the "Tulfein Express" - a combination lift with gondolas and comfortable six-seater chairs - to the Tulfein mountain station, plus another chairlift onto the Schartenkogel. This 15 kilometers descent offers dream views of the Inn Valley and is divided into two sections, a red slope first and a blue one in the lower part. Starting from the highest point of the ski resort at 2,304m, skiers descend more than 1,300 vertical meters down to the bottom of the cable car station in the village of Tulfes, at 948m a.s.l.

The upgrade is expected to attract a wider demographic of winter sports enthusiasts who previously may have been deterred by the slower, aging infrastructure of the upper mountain.

While the financing is fully secured, the project is currently in the final administrative phase. Construction is ready to begin as soon as the necessary permits are issued by regional authorities.

If the approval process stays on track, ground will be broken this summer to ensure that the "new" Glungezer is ready to welcome guests when the snow falls later this year. For the local community in Tulfes, the investment represents a long-term commitment to tourism and the local economy, ensuring the mountain remains a staple of Tyrolean skiing for decades to come.