Thanks to a project worth 30 million euros, the dormant Kobla ski resort will be revived in Slovenia
Kobla ski resort on the way to rebirth
The new investor wants to turn the dormant area into a modern, sustainable resort with the longest ski slopes in Slovenia
Ten years after the rise of favorites Kobla ski slope in northwestern Slovenia it stopped Goat’s back lift serving 440 m trails started again in December last year. The event, which the international audience might reject as insignificant, was locally announced as the first step towards the long-awaited revitalization of the winter sports area above Bohinj in the Julian Alps.
Ambitious goals
Prior to the closure of Kobla-Bohinj in 2011 due to the insolvency of the former concessionaire, the ski and surfing zone had 23 km of pistes at an altitude of between 540 and 1,480 m, supplied by 3 chairlifts and 3 cable cars.
The A € 30 million partnership project he is leading 2864 Bohinj, The company, founded by the cable car manufacturer Leitner, wants to change from a dormant area to a sustainable, environmentally friendly resort and cycling park with the longest ski slopes in Slovenia. The area dominated by Triglavska gora is perfect for year-round tourism with benefits such as a hotel, congress center, wellness, sauna and water park with indoor and outdoor pools, and not far away is the world-famous Lake Bohinj.
A project that enjoys local support
The 2864 project (named after the altitude of the highest peak in the country, Mount Triglav) suffered many years of delays due to bureaucratic obstacles and legal challenges of the former manager of the resort KOBLA ŽTG.
“Bohinj urgently needs this ski resort,” prefect Franc Kramar said MMC RTV Slovenia in a 2017 interview. “They (KOBLA ŽTG) use all legal and non-legal means to challenge everything that is happening with the new ski resort. They destroyed Kobla, but they don’t even have the money to build something new, “ said Kramar at the time.
Boštjan Mencinger, head of the Bohinj Tourist Association, told reporters at the re-launch of the Kozji hrbet ski lift that the new ski resort should strengthen Bohinj’s reputation as a ski destination. Due to the lack of working ski facilities in the vicinity, the number of winter tourist overnight stays decreased and the municipality was forced to start driving a ski bus on the slopes of Kranjska Gora, Soriška planina and Pokljuka to keep guests.
Happy series
Last year, Municipality of Bohinj granted the 2864 Bohinj concession for the Kozji hrbet ski lift, which has only recently started operating due to a lack of snow (and snow cannons). Beforethe company acquired all the facilities of the bankrupt company KOBLA ŽTG.
On 8 April 2021, the company 2864 Bohinj submitted a declaration of interest to the Ministry of Infrastructure for the construction of cableway facilities in the area of Bohinjska Bistrica. In a preliminary procedure in February 2012, the Ministry justified the need for cableway installations between Bohinjska Bistrica, Ravne, Sedlo pod Mali vrh and Slatnik.
On 29 January 2022, the Slovenian government finally granted the investor a concession for the construction of a gondola lift in the area, STA reported the news. The concession, which is one of the conditions for obtaining a building permit, is granted for a period of 40 years. For further progress, the project must also pass an environmental impact assessment.
The construction of three gondola lifts is planned, the first of which will run from Bohinjska Bistrica to Ravne, the second from Ravna to the top of Koble (Sedlo pod Malim vrhom) and the third extension to Slatnik. Catering services, a ski school and ski and bicycle rental will be expanded.
Adults who nostalgically remember skiing on the slopes of Koble in the past days may soon have the opportunity to relive the feeling. The party will definitely be joined by children who want to follow in the footsteps of Tina Maze, the most famous Slovenian alpine skier.