Alpine pioneering spirit at the Kitzsteinhorn

The Kitzsteinhorn is one of the great pioneering projects of Alpine winter sports. Between 1963 and 1965, Austria’s first glacier ski resort was developed here – a visionary achievement under extreme high-alpine conditions. With the opening of the world’s first alpine underground railway in 1974, Kaprun once again set new standards in technology and innovation.

Since then, continuous modernisation has shaped the development of the Kaprun glacier lifts. The 50th anniversary in 2015 marked the beginning of a new era of modern lift facilities. Between 2017 and 2019, the major generation project successfully connected the Maiskogel with the Kitzsteinhorn – an important step forward in comfort, sustainability and future-oriented mobility.

To this day, the Kitzsteinhorn stands for innovation, adaptability and the ongoing evolution of one of the most iconic glacier ski areas in the Alps.

The Kitzsteinhorn, an impressive peak rising to 3,203 metres, opened to the world of winter sports between 1963 and 1965 as Austria’s first glacier ski resort. What began with the development of this majestic glacier continued over the decades: through tireless commitment, the ski area was continuously expanded and modernised to offer visitors a unique experience that captures the true magic of the Alpine winter.

During the 1950s, skiing evolved from an exclusive leisure activity into a popular mass sport. New ski areas were developed across the Alps, and perfectly groomed slopes attracted more and more people to the mountains. This growing enthusiasm for winter sports was also strongly felt in the village of Kaprun. Against this backdrop, the Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG was founded in 1963. Its ambitious goal was to develop the 3,203-metre-high Kitzsteinhorn as Austria’s first glacier ski resort. With this visionary project, the region set a milestone in the history of Alpine skiing.

Ing. Wilhelm Fazokas, the initiator of the Kaprun Glacier Railway, was a key figure in the development of Alpine ski tourism in Austria. Born in 1917, Fazokas was a visionary whose passion and dedication played a decisive role in establishing the Kitzsteinhorn as Austria’s first glacier ski resort.

As a trained mechanical engineer, he recognised the potential of glacier skiing at an early stage and worked tirelessly to bring the project to life. Under his leadership, the Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG was founded in 1963 and began construction of the Kaprun Glacier Railway 1. Fazokas’ pioneering spirit and determination overcame the extreme challenges of building a cable car in a high-alpine environment.

His influence and vision continue to shape the development of the Kitzsteinhorn and Alpine tourism to this day. His achievements in opening up the glacier have secured him a lasting place in the history of the region.

The construction of the Kaprun Glacier Railway 1, built in three sections, confronted workers with extreme challenges. They battled icy temperatures dropping to minus 19 degrees Celsius and sought shelter at night and during severe storms in simple bivouac huts that were only minimally heated and offered little protection against the harsh alpine elements.

Despite these challenging conditions, the first two sections of the large-cabin aerial tramway were already put into operation in 1965. In autumn 1966, the entire installation was completed, making it possible to reach the impressive altitude of 3,029 metres.

The cable car transported up to 35 passengers per ride and stretched over a total length of 6.2 kilometres, supported by only eight towers. One of these towers remains truly remarkable to this day: standing at 113.6 metres, it still holds the record as the tallest cable car tower in the world.

Since its development in the 1960s, the Kitzsteinhorn has embodied the pioneering spirit and innovative strength of Alpine tourism.

Hermann Oberschneider

The Kaprun Glacier Railway 2: In 1974, after a construction period of two and a half years, the world’s first alpine underground railway was opened. This pioneering achievement covered a total length of 3,900 metres, with 3,300 metres running through a tunnel.

In 1994, the glacier railway was modernised and the two original trains were replaced by new models: the “Glacier Dragon” and the “Kitzsteinhorn Chamois.” Each train could transport up to 180 passengers and brought guests to the Alpincenter at 2,450 metres altitude in approximately eight and a half minutes.

On 11 November 2000, a devastating fire disaster occurred in this railway, claiming the lives of 155 people. The tunnel was subsequently extensively renovated but was never put back into operation and was permanently closed. Four years later, on 11 November 2004, a memorial site was inaugurated opposite the valley station of the glacier lifts to honour and remember the victims of this tragedy.

On 12 December 2015 – exactly 50 years after the first guests were transported by cable car to the Kitzsteinhorn on 12 December 1965 – the Gletscherbahnen Kaprun celebrated their 50th anniversary. The Ski School Kaprun, closely connected to the history of the ski area, also used this occasion to highlight its long tradition and commitment to winter sports. Since its founding, the ski school has been an essential part of the region’s tourism offering and has played a key role in promoting skiing.

On this day, the new lift axis Gletscherjet 3 + 4 was officially inaugurated. Operating since 17 October 2015, it provides faster and more comfortable access to the glacier and redefines the structure of the central ski area at the Kitzsteinhorn.

The anniversary celebration was held under the motto “Kitzsteinhorn: Power of Change” – a title symbolising both the dynamic past and the future of Austria’s first glacier ski resort. With the forward-looking Gletscherjet 3 + 4 project, the Gletscherbahnen Kaprun continued their strategy of constant adaptation to changes in the glacier, climate and tourism, marking the beginning of a new era at the Kitzsteinhorn.

Between 2017 and 2019, the so-called Kaprun Generation Project was realised – connecting the glacier ski area with the family mountain Maiskogel and the village of Kaprun. Following the merger with Maiskogelbetriebs AG in December 2017, the two Kaprun mountains, the Kitzsteinhorn and the Maiskogel, were linked in two construction phases by a modern cable car system completed in December 2019.

With this project, the Gletscherbahnen Kaprun consistently continued their strategy of adapting to the challenges of glacier development, climate change and evolving tourism demands. Guided by the “Power of Change,” a new era began for Kaprun and the Kitzsteinhorn.

The Kitzsteinhorn stands as a symbol of pioneering spirit and innovation in Alpine tourism. Since its development as Austria’s first glacier ski resort, it has continuously evolved – both technically and conceptually. Even after tragic setbacks such as the fire disaster of 2000, the region consistently looked ahead and responded to new challenges with modern solutions.

Projects such as the connection with the Maiskogel and the ongoing expansion of infrastructure demonstrate how the Gletscherbahnen Kaprun successfully balance tradition and progress. In doing so, they set a strong example of sustainable and future-oriented tourism development in the Alps.

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