Insolvency Administrator Sells The Jungholz Ski Lift Operations As A Package

In the summer of 2025, insolvency administrator Dr. Erich Pfanzelt reported that a unified sale of the real estate and movable assets of the Jungholz ski lift company, GmbH, had failed at the last minute. An investor who had appeared at the time had already transferred a purchase price of approximately €1.7 million. The deal ultimately fell through because, to the surprise of many involved in the insolvency proceedings, no agreement could be reached between the investor and a few of the affected property owners.

For months, the insolvency administrator attempted to sell the real estate and movable assets of the insolvent company. It was clear that only a complete sale would offer any hope for the future of the ski resort in Jungholz. Breaking up the insolvent company's assets would likely have meant the end of the ski resort.

Just days before Christmas, the long-running saga of the bankrupt Jungholz ski resort has come to a hopeful conclusion. Insolvency administrator Erich Pfanzelt has successfully sold the entire lift operation as a single package to the neighboring Skilifte Oberjoch (Bergbahnen Hindelang-Oberjoch).

The deal, confirmed by the Austrian credit protection association (KSV 1870) and local officials last week, secures the future of the unique Austrian exclave’s tourism industry after nearly two years of financial turmoil.

The acquisition by the Oberjoch operators is seen as the most logical solution for the struggling resort. Jungholz and Oberjoch are located just kilometers apart and have historically shared guest demographics and ticketing networks.

By purchasing the assets as a "package," Oberjoch takes control of all key infrastructure, including:

• The chairlifts and drag lifts (including the 4-seater and 6-seater chairs).
• Snowmaking infrastructure (pumps, pipes, and over 40 snow cannons).
• The rolling stock (pistenbullies and service vehicles).

Jungholz Mayor Karina Konrad described the news as a "beautiful Christmas gift" for the village, which has been without operational lifts since the bankruptcy filing in June 2024.

The sale follows a high-profile failure earlier this summer. In April 2025, the German firm WMM AG had initially agreed to buy the resort for approximately €1.7 million. However, that deal collapsed in July after negotiations with 20 local landowners reached a stalemate. The landowners refused to grant year-round land-use rights, citing concerns over WMM’s aggressive expansion plans.

While the current purchase price paid by Skilifte Oberjoch has not been officially disclosed, reports indicate it is "significantly lower" than the previous €1.7 million offer. However, the administrator noted that the result is still far better for creditors than a piecemeal liquidation of the equipment.

While the sale is a massive victory for the region, skiers will have to wait a bit longer to return to the Sorgschrofen slopes.

The new owners have confirmed that no lift operations will take place during the 2025–26 winter season. The "standstill" of the past year has left the equipment in need of technical inspections and maintenance that cannot be completed in time for the current holiday rush.

Instead, the focus will turn to:

• Landowner Negotiations: New talks with local property owners are scheduled for January to secure "Dienstbarkeiten" (usage rights) in a more collaborative manner.
• Modernization: Infrastructure upgrades to ensure the aging lifts meet modern safety and efficiency standards.
• Sustainable Year-Round Use: Exploring a 4-season model that includes family-friendly mountain biking.

The goal is a full reopening for the 2026–27 winter season, restoring Jungholz’s status as one of the premier family-friendly ski destinations in the Allgäu-Tyrol border region.

Klaus Schaller, head of KSV1870 in Innsbruck, explains: “The purchase agreement concluded by the insolvency administrator and approved today by insolvency judge Dr. Hannes Seiser is less favorable for the creditors due to the significantly lower purchase price than would have been the case with a solution reached in the summer. At the time, KSV1870 found it incomprehensible, with this winter season in mind, that an agreement could not be reached with a few landowners. It is clear that, due to the necessary preparatory work by the buyer, there will likely be no lift operation in Jungholz this winter season. This will negatively impact the tourist appeal of the entire region for many months.”

It is thanks to the exceptional efforts of the insolvency administrator that the sale of the assets piecemeal was ultimately prevented. KSV1870 was always clear that a breakup and individual sale of the existing assets would represent the worst possible outcome for the creditors. Even though the €1.7 million purchase price agreed upon in the summer was no longer attainable for the insolvency administrator, the result achieved is significantly higher than the forecasts for a piecemeal sale.