The Kolben ski resort near Oberammergau has ended its winter operations due to persistent financial losses and diminishing natural snowfall, citing severe climate shifts that made every season a financial liability since 2019. Operating at an elevation where the valley station sits at 850 meters and the mountain station at 1270 meters, the resort encompasses a chairlift and several drag lifts.
According to a statement from the resort, Ab der Saison 2019/2020 sei jeder Winter ein »Draufzahlgeschäft« geworden.
Operators noted that die Niederschläge kommen immer mehr als Regen denn als Schnee,
and stated that in unserem Wintereinzugsgebiet südlich Münchens und Augsburgs gibt es keinen Winter im bisherigen Sinn mehr.
Alone in the past three winters, financial losses totaled slightly more than one million euros.
Financial Losses and Rising Costs
The closure was driven by mounting technical and environmental challenges alongside the financial deficit. Days and hours with sub-zero temperatures required for artificial snow production have decreased, meaning es muss deshalb immer mehr in Technik investiert werden, um in weniger Zeit mehr Schnee herzustellen.
Furthermore, low water levels increasingly prohibited drawing water from the Ammer for snow cannons. Additional burdens included surging energy prices for electricity and diesel used by piste vehicles, as well as an increased winter staffing requirement. Despite the shutdown of the Kolben resort itself, small Wank drag lifts operated by other parties will continue to run at the bottom of the slope this winter.
Broader Ski Industry Impacts
The shift away from traditional operations is affecting other areas as well, with the Berchtesgadener Bergbahn having already discontinued classical ski operations at the Jenner by the previous season as part of a resource-saving concept. Meanwhile, other Bavarian ski regions are preparing for the upcoming season with planned December openings—or late November on the Zugspitze—while raising prices by approximately two percent to several euros due to higher energy and personnel costs, alongside new online ticketing discounts.
