History of a snow resort in South TYrol

Story of the Glacier Express “Funivie Ghiacciai Val Senales”

1951: foundation of the Ski-Club Val Senales – skiing boom in Val Senales. The first skiing tourists came already after the World War II into the valley.

1956-64: Creation of the first ski lifts in Val Senales: one lift at Certosa, one lift at Madonna di Senales and one at Maso Corto. The ski lifts couldn’t be always in operation because of snow poverty.

1967: Foundation of the first ski school of Val Senales

In the early 60s was a little young group of contractors who had the intention of building a ski-resort in Val Senales. Therefore were made some inital planes from a society. At that time was the plan to build the ski-resort above the farms “Gerstgrashöfe”. The aggressive and competent young farmer, Leo Gurschler from the “Kurzhof” had the idea of a ski-resort in Maso Corto, where he built afterwards his lifts. The present “Sporthotel” at Maso Corto existed already at this time. His vision was to open up the “Hochjochferner” as a glacier ski-resort.

1968: Inauguration of the lift „Lazaun“ at Maso Corto

1970: Inauguration of the lift “Glocken” at Maso Corto

Leo Gurschler had at that time two partners for his project: the mayor Johann Rainer and the deputy mayor Richard Grüner. Together they wanted to realize the idea and to bring the desired economic growth into the valley.

13th June 1972: meeting of politicians and experts from South and North Tyrol, to discuss the project of Leo Gurschler. The commission of experts valued the project with a positive opinion.

03th July 1972: Preparation and foundation of a stock company

6th July 1972: official foundation meeting of the glacier express company "Funivia Ghiacciai Val Senales S.p.A.". The shareholders were people from the area of Merano and the Vinschgau Valley. Leo Gurschler participated at about the half of the capital. The participation of the share capital was also the composition of the first administrative board and supervisory board.

May-June 1972: survey works at „Grawand“ by Leo Gurschler and his technicians Ing. Hubert Zuegg and Dr. Ing. Diemtar Pohl.

August 1972: Leo's adventurous ride on a digger to Grawand (3.212 m.)

Spring 1973: Construction of the ropeway of material transport to „Grawand“; start of the construction works at the mountain station.

1974: Construction of the middle foothold, mountain station and the valley station. Mounting of the ski lifts on the glacier

January 1974: Organizational expensive and risky transportation of the four suspension ropes

Spring 1973: Construction of the ropeway of material transport to „Grawand“; start of the construction works at the mountain station.

1974: Construction of the middle foothold, mountain station and the valley station. Mounting of the ski lifts on the glacier

January 1974: Organizational expensive and risky transportation of the four suspension ropes

12th July 1975: Opening of the glacier express „Funivie Ghaicciai Val Senales“ and maiden trip with the cable car.

Further stages - development of the company:

1974: Second descent route from the alp “Lazaun Alm” was built

1977: Construction of the sports village „Maso Corto“

1977: Construction of the lift “Gletschersee 1”

1979: The old Lazaun ski lift was replaced with a double chairlift. The lift “Glocken” was doubled, and later was also the final lift doubled

April 1979: opening of the new hotel complex

1986: construction of a hydroelectric power plant

1988: renewal of the electronics of the cable car

1991: Construction of the chairlift “Hintereis”

1995: Renewal of the ski lifts at “Grawand” with a modern quad chair lift - - 20-year review of the cable car

1998: Construction of the canalization from the mountain station to Maso Corto

2001: establishment of the modern, detachable quad chairlift to „Teufelsegg”

2002: establishment of the modern, detachable quad chair lift to the “Roter Kofel”. Renewal of the cable car cabins.

2003: modernization of the rooms from the hotel „Berghotel Grawand“

2004: Construction of the mountain hut “Teufelsegghütte”

2004: Automation of the snowmaking system at the ski lift “Glocken”

2004: Reconstruction of the valley station including the administrative offices

2005: Construction of the snow machine for the descent, improvement and broadening for the descent to the valley.

2008: Construction of a cogeneration plant, which is powered by renewable raw materials.