history of our company

t-bar lift "Gefrorene Wand" 1968                 

1949: The company that would later become Zillertaler Gletscherbahn was founded as ‘Schiliftgesellschaft Hintertux’ with the construction of a chair lift.

1951: The chair lift was destroyed by an avalanche. A new chair lift with wooden towers was constructed to the northeast of Hintertux, along the edge of the forest.

1954: The new chair lift was also removed, and despite financial difficulties, the Bichlalm surface lift was build at the edge of Hintertux. For thirty years afterwards, it transported skiers from far and near.

1960:Another surface lift was built at the head of the valley. It was dismantled in 1979 and rebuilt on the Sommerbergalm, where it currently operates as the Ramsmoos lift.

1964: Zillertaler Gletscherbahn GmbH & Co KG was founded.

1965:Construction of a single-seat chairlift on the Sommerbergalm.

1968: Construction of the longest single-seat chairlift in Austria (2.5 km long), leading to the Tuxer Fernerhaus. This formed the basis for opening up the glacier skiing area.

Over the years, other links were added to provide access to the current Hintertux Glacier ski area, which boasts 21 modern cable car and lift facilities on an area of 270 ha.
With its 90 employees (130 in winter) the Zillertaler Gletscherbahn is an important economic factor in the Zillertal valley and significantly contributes to the upswing of the whole region.

1969: To complement the ‘Liftstube’ on the Sommerbergalm (now the Sommerbergalm Restaurant), the Tuxer Fernerhaus, a new, modern self service restaurant with seating for 200 guests, was opened at an elevation of 2660 m.

1984:Development of the Rastkogel ski area in Vorderlanersbach, located on the sunny Lämmerbichl plateau.

1990:The majority of shares of the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn were acquired by the Province of Tyrol, and a new cable car leading from Ehrwald-Obermoos to the 2692-metre summit of the Zugspitze was constructed and put into service in only one year.

Besides the cable car, the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn Holiday Park includes a hotel, a restaurant, a block of flats with a water experience playground and a year-round campground. The Ehrwalder Almbahnen family ski area in Ehrwald rounds out the offerings of our company in the Außerfern district of Tyrol.

1996:The most modern cable car in the Alps, the new Glacier Bus 2, is put into service. Its special technology allows it to be safely operated at wind speeds up to 70 km/h.

2000:On 1 April 2000, the new Glacier Bus 3, the highest dual-cable continuously circulating tramway in the world, climbs to an elevation of 3250 metres for the first time. The extreme operating conditions for this new funitel tramway placed unusual demands on its designers, engineers and fitters.

In December, Zillertaler Gletscherbahn acquires the majority of shares of the Finkenberger Almbahn GmbH & Co KG, thereby taking a significant step in the direction of linking the Rastkogel and Penken ski areas.

2001:In the spring, the groundbreaking ceremony is held for the new ‘Tux 150’ cable car, which will link the two ski areas. This extensive ski area, which is christened Ski & Glacier World Zillertal 3000, is now the largest ski area in the Zillertal.

December 2002: The Horbergjoch chair lift in the Rastkogel ski area is replaced by an 8-seat chair lift with comfort seats. This 8-seat chair lift is the first in the world to achieve a capacity of 4000 persons/hour.

2003: The base terminal, a cabin and the ropes of the “Tiroler Zugspitzbahn” were damaged by a
fire. After only 6 months the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn is rebuilt and opened again for the public.

A new 8-seater panorama-cable car is put into service in Finkenberg instead of the 2-seater
chairlift from the middle station. The entrance into the Ski- & Glacierworld Zillertal3000 is now
more comfortable than ever.

2004: In summer 2004 the new Penkenjoch reservoir (Ski- & Glacierworld Zillertal3000) with a
capacity of 70,000 m³ was constructed.

2005: The t-bar lift Kaserer 1, built in 1978, has been removed in September 05. The new t-bar lift
Kaserer1 is constructed on glacier-ice.

The Sommerberg restaurant was rebuilt during summer05 as a modern and yet cosy
self-service mountain restaurant, featuring large expanses of wood, an open fireplace and
magnificent panoramic views of the glacier.

2006: The snow-making facilities in the "Sommerberg" ski region will be completed in the area near the "Tuxerjoch" and equipped with a fully automated snow-making system. A new reservoir with a capacity of 70,000 m³ ensures the water supply.

After this year’s construction phase is completed, snow will be made for an additional 8 km of pistes on the Sommerbergalm (equipment is already on hand for the "Ramsmoos" slopes), as well as for 7 km of the valley run ("Schwarze Pfanne"). The new snowmaking equipment features a high-pressure system with more than 100 lances. The most natural design possible will be created for the new reservoir, to make it an attractive addition to the popular Sommerbergalm hiking area in the summer.

2007: The construction work for modern dual-cable Gletscherbus 1 from station at the bottom end Hintertux to Sommerbergalm on 2.100m.

Enlargement of the underground car park at the station at the bottom end Hintertux of 60 parking lots.
Enlargement of snow-making facilities in the area of Tuxer Fernerhaus.

2008: The 2nd stage of construction (top station and way) for the Gletscherbus 1 starting.
Enlargement of snow-making facilities in the area of Tuxer Fernerhaus.

The glacier bus family is complete now. The dual-cable Gletscherbus 1 is taken into service, waiting times therefore are a belong of the past in Hintertux.

2009: Artificial snow making facilities at the Rastkogel ski region with a new reservoir.
Improved artificial snow making facilities in the area around the Tuxer Fernerhaus (Hintertuxer Glacier)

2010: Improvement of the artificial snow making facilities at the Rastkogel ski region.
Improved artificial snow making facilities in the area around the Tuxer Fernerhaus.
Opening of the restaurant Hochleger at the Sommerberg, with show kitchen and panorama terrace.

4-seater cable car "Sommerberg" 1972