Watles Ski Resort Announces Upgraded "Prämajur" Gondola for 2026/2027 Season

The family-focused ski area of Watles in South Tyrol is embarking on one of the most significant infrastructure upgrades in its recent history, replacing its ageing Prämajur chairlift with a new 10-person gondola that is scheduled to enter service for the 2026/27 winter season.

Located in the Upper Vinschgau Valley near the Austrian and Swiss borders, Watles has built its reputation as a compact, family-friendly mountain destination. While the resort offers a relatively modest network of around 18 kilometres of pistes, local stakeholders believe the new gondola will substantially improve guest comfort and help secure the area's long-term competitiveness.

Replacing a Lift Reaching the End of Its Life

The new ropeway, known as the Prämajur-Höferalm gondola, will replace a detachable four-seat chairlift that entered service in 1995 and is approaching the end of its operational lifespan. According to project information, continuing to operate the existing installation beyond its concession period was considered neither technically nor economically sustainable.

The new LEITNER-built gondola will stretch approximately 1,353 metres between the base station at 1,750 metres and the mountain station at 2,168 metres. Designed to transport 2,000 passengers per hour, the installation will operate at speeds of up to 5 metres per second, reducing travel times while significantly improving weather protection for guests.

For a resort whose core audience includes families, beginners and day visitors, the upgrade represents more than a straightforward lift replacement.

Enclosed cabins offer easier boarding for children, greater accessibility and improved transport for summer visitors carrying bicycles, pushchairs or hiking equipment. This reflects a growing trend across the Alps, where mountain operators are increasingly investing in infrastructure that serves visitors year-round rather than focusing exclusively on winter sports.

Supporting a Four-Season Destination

Although Watles is best known as a ski area, the mountain has increasingly positioned itself as a year-round outdoor destination.

In winter, the resort offers alpine skiing, a snowpark, ski touring routes, cross-country skiing nearby in Slingia and one of South Tyrol's most popular natural toboggan runs. During the snow-free months, the mountain attracts hikers, cyclists and families seeking outdoor recreation.

The switch from an open chairlift to a high-capacity gondola is therefore seen as an investment in all-season tourism, allowing easier access regardless of weather conditions and broadening the appeal of the mountain beyond traditional skiers.

Strategic Importance for the Upper Vinschgau

The project has attracted strong support from public authorities, highlighting the economic importance of Watles to the surrounding region.

In September 2025, the Province of Bolzano increased its contribution to the project from 35% to 65% of recognised costs, amounting to almost €7 million of a €10.7 million eligible investment. Provincial officials described the new installation as strategically important for the Upper Vinschgau, a region regarded as structurally weaker than many of South Tyrol's better-known tourism centres.

According to reports, around 40 winter jobs and 20 summer jobs are linked directly to the lift operation, while nearby hotels provide more than 350 guest beds and employ roughly 200 people. Regional authorities argued that maintaining a viable mountain tourism sector is essential for local economic development and community sustainability.

Funding for the gondola also involves the municipality of Mals, the Upper Vinschgau tourism region and local businesses, underlining the level of regional commitment behind the project.

Part of a Wider Alpine Trend

Watles is far from alone in modernising its uplift infrastructure.

Across Europe, ski areas are replacing ageing chairlifts with higher-capacity gondolas that deliver greater comfort, accessibility and weather resilience. Such investments are increasingly viewed as essential not only for winter operations but also for attracting summer visitors and supporting broader mountain tourism strategies.

For smaller destinations in particular, modern access lifts can have an outsized impact. At Watles, the Prämajur installation serves as the primary gateway to the skiable terrain, meaning improvements to the guest experience begin from the moment visitors step into a cabin.

When the new gondola opens for the 2026/27 season, it will mark the beginning of a new chapter for one of South Tyrol's lesser-known ski areas. While headline-grabbing mega-projects often dominate attention in the Alps, Watles' investment demonstrates how targeted infrastructure upgrades can help smaller resorts strengthen their position, improve year-round appeal and continue supporting the communities that depend on mountain tourism.