Overview
- A narrow shareholder vote on 26 August 2026 approved the board’s plan to close all four ski lifts and stop piste preparation for the coming winter while the village gondola will continue to run.
- Sportbahnen Braunwald AG reported sustained losses with a recent deficit of about 1.6 million CHF and emergency borrowing of roughly 4 million CHF that the board says was needed to avoid insolvency.
- The board cited scientific forecasts from the WSL showing fewer continuous snow days at lower elevations as a key reason that lift operations are no longer viable.
- Local backlash grew quickly: roughly 6,000 people signed an open letter disputing the snow argument, calling attention to rising personnel and operating costs, and a shareholder motion for a special audit failed at the meeting.
- SBAG plans to refocus winter tourism on the gondola and non-ski offers such as sledging and snow walks and is exploring whether at least one lift can be preserved or transferred, but local hotels and restaurants warn the pivot may not replace lost winter revenue.