On May 7, 1970, the foundation stone for the “Kappl-Dias-Schiliftgesellschaft” was laid, with construction works for the cable cars starting the same year. With lots of energy and budget (1.5 billion Schilling) invested in the project, the first Dias chairlift was able to start operation on December 14, 1970. From then onwards, new lifts and cable cars opened every year and snow-making systems were first installed in the winter of 1989/90.
Today, after 50 years of operation, the ski resort boasts a total of 10 cable cars, lifts and conveyor lifts, ensuring excellent snow fun in the mountains of the Paznaun region. Every hour, the Diasbahn cable car can take a whopping 1,600 guests up to 2,960 metres.
Read more on the fascinating history of Bergbahnen Kappl!
On 7 May 1970, 71 parties attended the founding meeting of the Kappl-Dias-Schiliftgesellschaft GmbH. 3,349,000 Austrian shillings ( 243,400 euros) were subscribed as share capital.
In addition to the municipality and the tourist association, 69 private shareholders were present, who were entered in the articles of association as founding members. Josef Wechner and Jakob Rudigier were appointed as managing directors.
On 2 July 1970 the building permit was granted by the provincial government. The Dias chairlift was built for 1.5 million Austrian shillings (109,000 euros) and the Mardinalift for 1.2 million Austrian shillings (87,200 euros). In addition, a piste machine was purchased for 500,000 Austrian shillings (36,300 euros). The planned total costs were exceeded by only 100,000 Austrian shillings (7,200 euros). The Dias chairlift was put into operation on 14 December 1970.
In the summer of 1971, the Hirschenbad and Schönebele lifts were built - both T-bar lifts were put into operation in the following winter. Between 1972 and 1975, various improvements were made to the pistes and a further piste machine was purchased.
In the winter of 1978/79, the chairlift to Alblitt and the Alblitt T-bar lift were put into operation. In the winter of 1979/80, the 2-curve T-bar lift to the 2,690 m high Alblittkopf followed.
In the 1979/80 season, the company, which had meanwhile been transformed into Wintersport Kappl GmbH & Co KG, transported more than one million winter sports enthusiasts for the first time. In the summer of 1986, the Dias chairlift was replaced by the 57 million Austrian shillings (4,142,000 euros) investment for the construction of the 4-person gondola single-cable gondola lift, and the following summer the Gongall double chairlift was built at a cost of 26 million Austrian shillings (1,880,000 euros).
In the winter of 1989/90 snow cannons were used for the first time. In the following years, the snow-making system was continuously expanded and improved.