How it all began...

Kaserer

... In the beginning there was the "Trücherl", a material cable car up the Fastenberg. This was mainly used to transport milk from the farms to the valley, but soon it was realised how practical the cable car was also for transporting people.

Things literally went uphill with the first toll roads. The potential of winter tourism was recognised and soon the construction of T-bar and chair lifts began. The opening of the first Planai cable car on 21 December 1972 was a dream come true. No one could have imagined at the time that this would be the starting signal for an upswing in Schladming that is still going on today - 50 years later.

Today, the Planai in Schladming is one of the largest ski areas in Austria and is also internationally known thanks to numerous major events such as the World Ski Championships and the Night Race. As a central economic and tourism engine, the Planai has developed into the lifeline of the Schladming-Dachstein region and beyond.

Milestones in the development

On 29 July 1970 the actual founding of the company "Planai-Bahn GmbH" followed in the Schladming town hall.
Opening of the first Planai cable car on 21 December 1972.
The fusion in 1979 with the "Hochwurzen-Bahn" creates today's Planai-Hochwurzen- Bahnen GmbH.
In 1982 Schladming and the Planai were the focus of media and sports interest: as the venue for the Alpine Ski World Championships.
In 1996 the legendary Night Race took place for the first time. 50,000 visitors come to Schladming every year to see the ski stars in a sea of waving flags.
In 1998 the connection between Hauser Kaibling - Planai - Hochwurzen - Reiteralm was created by the 4-Mountain Ski Area.
In 2001, the largest Austrian tariff association was founded: Ski amadé, an alliance of 23 cable car companies, to offer guests the widest range of alpine activities in Europe and the second largest in the world.
The Planai car park was built in 2008 and was already considered the most modern car park in Austria.
In 2010, the construction of Planet Planai signalled a new era in tourism architecture.
The Planai World Cup Park was built in 2011. Europe's most modern underground car park offers 400 parking spaces and generous usable areas for the 2013 World Cup.
In 2012 the Ski World Cup Final took place in Schladming, which was the official and very successful " rehearsal " for the Ski World Championships 2013.
In 2013 Schladming was the venue of the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2013 and was the focus of sporting interest with this major sporting event.
2013 Construction of the 10-seater cable car Gipfelbahn Hochwurzen
2016 Construction of the 8er Burgstallalm lift
Glass fronts on the valley station building open up views into the technical heart of the cable car.
2018 New construction of the Hopsi-Express inclined lift. It makes the way to Hopsiland child's play.
2019 Construction of the Planai 10-seater main cable car. The new construction of the Planai lift, including the construction of a new middle and top station, was the largest single investment in the company's history and is considered a generation project.
2020 Construction of the 8-seater Lärchkogelbahn Planai. A terrace was built at the top station where guests can experience both the mountain panorama and insider insights into the cable car technology.