Our association has made significant progress towards its goal during the reporting year. Various sub-projects for the construction of a new cable car to Rellerli have been initiated or completed.
Looking Back:
The gondola lift from Schönried to Rellerli, which was in operation until 2019, was recorded in the Swiss cable car inventory and was considered a nationally significant object. It served the intermunicipal recreational area “Hundsrügg,” which stretches from Jaunpass in Boltigen, through Sparenmoos in Zweisimmen, to Saanenland. This recreational area is an important tourism destination. The gondola lift was originally operated by Bergbahnen Destination Gstaad (BDG). In 2015, due to its financial and operational difficulties, BDG decided to cease operation at Rellerli at the end of the concession, focusing instead on other locations. Thus the cable car operation was discontinued at the beginning of 2019.
This development disappointed many in the community and the region, leading to the formation of the association “Friends of Rellerli” in 2017. The association’s goal is to create a new gondola lift and preserve and enhance the mountain’s tourism potential, focusing on nature-based, sustainable tourism (hiking, biking, freeriding, snowshoeing, etc.). A restaurant operation is also planned. Ski slope preparation and summer attractions such as toboggan runs or downhill tracks are no longer planned. The remaining facilities are to be dismantled by BDG.
The replacement of the Rellerli cable car is part of the strategy of Gstaad Saanenland Tourism (GST) for the entire tourism region, ensuring public interest in a new lift. The more than 1,000 members of the “Friends of Rellerli” association also demonstrate this public interest.
