Špindlerův Mlýn to Invest CZK 1.2 Billion in Merging Its Ski Areas

The Czech ski resort of Špindlerův Mlýn is investing CZK 1.2 billion in a major overhaul of its ski complex that will, for the first time, link its previously separate sections. According to resort director René Groneš, presale of ski passes has already begun, and prices won't rise — in fact, a one-day pass in March will cost less than 500 crowns.

New Terminal and a Heated Gondola

The heart of the project is the site of the former P1 car park by the Labská Dam, where a transport terminal is being built to connect the two halves of the ski area. From there, visitors will be able to transfer to a new six-seat Audi Line Přední gondola with heated seats, which will carry skiers toward Hromovka and on to Svatý Petr.

The gondola line runs 1,400 metres, with a capacity of up to 2,000 passengers per hour, and the ride to the top will take about four minutes, said René Groneš, director of Skiareál Špindlerův Mlýn.

Phase Two and New Bridges

The second stage of the project — a ten-seat Lesní cable car up to Medvědín — is due to be completed next year. Once finished, skiers will be able to move from the terminal in both directions without having to switch lifts. Construction is set to begin in April. A key requirement for linking the two parts of the resort is the construction of two bridges — one over the Elbe (Labe) and another over road II/295 toward Vrchlabí.

According to Groneš, the benefits of the investment are considerable: a single ski pass will allow skiers to ride across different zones of the resort without needing to drive between the two sides of the valley. The two new lines will also cut queues at the lifts, easing congestion and improving safety on the slopes.

The idea of linking the slopes at Špindlerův Mlýn has been discussed since 1994. For years, the sticking point was where exactly to route the cable car up to Medvědín, since reaching the summit itself is off-limits under nature protection rules. The only viable option, confirmed after years of environmental impact assessment (EIA), is the current route.

Water from the Dam for Snowmaking

A separate part of the project is the construction of a water intake system from the Labská Dam, costing CZK 300 million. The resort previously drew water from the Elbe and the Dolský stream, but the hydrological situation has been growing more difficult each year. The dam will now supply around 250,000 cubic metres of water for snowmaking — more than before. Three of the five installed pumps will serve snow production for Svatý Petr and Hromovka, while the other two will supply the new Lesní run.

Resort Cuts Prices

Ski passes at Špindlerův Mlýn are sold under a flexible dynamic pricing system, with costs depending on the date, time of day and demand. But for the spring season, the resort is preparing a significant change: a day pass will cost 490 crowns.

"Over the past two years, we've noticed a shift in skiers' behaviour — interest in skiing drops off from the second day of the weekend onward, even though conditions remain excellent. So from March 8 until the end of the season, except for Easter, a day pass will cost less than five hundred crowns," said René Groneš.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz