History
1949 In the early days
In order to provide a better and more modern connection to the valley and to improve the livelihood of the mountain dwellers, the members of the cantonal parliament and mayor Auxilius Stucky take the initiative to form a committee that decides on the construction of an aerial cable car to Betten Dorf and later to Bettmeralp. (With a government license for 10-passenger cabins).
The advisory committee consists of 19 members, all of whom are residents of Betten. Five are elected to the core working party.
The initiators and pioneers laid the foundations for the future development of our present summer and winter resort of Bettmeralp.
1950 The first petition for license
The first petition for license is rejected by the government in Berne. They justify their refusal by saying that Riederalp had already started the construction of their aerial cable car and that the facilities in Betten would compete with them.
Finally, the cantonal government grants a license for a 4-passenger aerial cable car from Betten Nussbaumbrücke (Betten FO) to Betten Dorf.
June 28, 1950 Founding meeting for the aerial cable car to Bettmeralp
Held by the initiators of the aerial cable car from Betten to Bettmeralp. Appointment of a working party.
 Die Viererkabinen-Bahn auf der ersten Sektion |
In May 1951, the first aerial cable car makes the journey from Betten Nussbaumbrücke to Betten Dorf.
July 14, 1951 First general assembly
of the Luftseilbahn Betten-Bettmeralp AG. The following five men were elected as board members:
- Auxilius Stucky Chairman of the Board of Directors
- Moritz Imhof
- Alois Imhof
- Alfons Mangisch
- Anton Zurbriggen
Moritz Imhof took over the management of the new company.
 Die erste Bahn auf die Bettmeralp auf der zweiten Sektion |
From now on, Bettmeralp is connected with the valley and the wider world.
1955 Opening of the first ski lift in Bettmeralp
A small ski lift is opened. Financed with promissory notes.
The lift facilities go from today’s lower station of the Bettmeralplifte towards today’s
Lägerlifte.
 Heinrich Franzen in doppelter Funktion: als Coiffeurmeister und als Skiliftangestellter |
Replacement of the present small ski lift by a larger ski lift on December 28, 1956.
Financed by a community of interests with the aerial cable car company holding a stake.
1958 Aerial cable car from Betten Dorf to Bettmeralp rebuilt
from 4-passenger into 10-passenger cabins.
1962 Construction of the “Zurschmitten” ski lift
Construction and opening of the “Zurschmitten“ ski lift at today’s location of the Bettmerhorn lift.
In winter 1962/63, the first ski school is opened in Bettmeralp.
The foundations are laid for the sound development of a winter sports resort.
1965 Aerial cable car from Betten FO to Betten Dorf rebuilt
from existing 4-passenger into new 50-passenger cabins (Section 1) conceived as a winchoperated aerial cable car.
1967 Aerial cable car from Betten Dorf to Bettmeralp rebuilt
from 10-passenger into 50-passenger cabins.
At Christmas 1967, Bettmeralp can be reached from the lower station by 50-passenger cabins.
1967 New Bettmerhorn ski lift built
by Habegger Willy in Thun. In the course of time, this firm will realize further important projects for VBB.
1968 Construction of the Schönboden chairlift
Opening of the new Bettmeralp-Schönboden chairlift for the winter season 1968/69.
Construction of the Wurzenbord ski lift
Wurzenbord ski lift built in summer 1968.
From now on, summer and winter season are equally important.
1969 Construction of a training lift in Bettmeralp
1971 Construction of the Alpmatten ski lifts I / II
Construction of the two feeder ski lifts Alpmatten I / II
Purchase of a snow grooming vehicle
1972 Construction of the Bettmeralp I / II parallel ski lifts
Construction of the Bettmeralp I / II parallel ski lifts
 Der Neubau der Bergstation Luftseilbahn |
“Switzerland’s largest aerial cable car“
The opening of the largest cable car in Switzerland with 125-passenger
cabins signifies a major milestone in the development of Bettmeralp and LSB (Betten-Bettmeralp aerial cable cars).
Bettmeralp acquires Switzerland’s first cable car based garbage disposal truck.
The garbage truck is directly attached to the aerial cable car’s cabin.
Thanks to its capacity this aerial cable car becomes the company’s most important means of transportation.
This 14 million project ensures that Bettmeralp has the chance to develop into one of the
most significant summer and winter vacation destinations.
Willy Habegger in Thun was the manufacturer of this aerial cable car.
1976 New 4-passenger gondola built at Bettmeralp-Bettmerhorn
The construction and opening of the gondola from Bettmeralp to Bettmerhorn marks another
important milestone for the company.
The cost for this new facility amounts to CHF 7.6 million.
From now on, our guests are given the opportunity to travel quickly and safely to the Bettmerhorn,
the striking vantage point with the unique panorama of the Valaisian and Bernese Alps, not to
mention the Aletsch area’s biggest attraction: the great Aletsch glacier.
Willy Habegger in Thun was the manufacturer of this gondola.
 25-Jahr-Feier der Bettmeralp Bahnen AG |
The Betten-Bettmeralp aerial cable car celebrates its 25-year anniversary.
Farewell for pioneer Auxilius Stucky
After 25 years of commitment to our company, Auxilius Stucky, the great pioneer and sponsor of Bettmeralp, hands over the office of chairman to Erich Kronig, a bank director.
With his tenacity, skills, and diplomacy, Auxilius Stucky led the company outstandingly and contributed to the development of Bettmeralp.
1979 Opening of the Bettmerhorn mountain restaurant
at the upper station of the Bettmerhorn gondola.
From now on, our company assumes the additional role of restaurateur. In this capacity, we can now
spoil our guests with culinary delights.
1980 LBB changes into VBB
LBB not only runs aerial cable cars, but also all the local sports facilities. Therefore, the company
changes its name to
Verkehrsbetriebe Betten-Bettmeralp AG.
1981 Construction of the first triple chairlift in Switzerland
Construction of the first triple chairlift in Switzerland by Städeli AG. The facility runs parallel to the existing Bettmerhorn ski lift. The cost of this new facility amounts to CHF 4.8 million.
1982 Staff building at the chairlift
We built apartments for our seasonal staff at the lower station of the Bettmerhorn chairlift. The building consists of 16 studio apartments and a lounge. On the first floor are the new cash desk facilities, garages, a workshop, and the office of the sports facilities manager.
Purchase of the Betten FO “Nussbaum” multi-story car park;
Purchase of the “Nussbaum” multi-story car park consisting of 315 parking spaces (275 indoor parking spaces).
1983 Renovation of the upper station of the aerial cable car in Bettmeralp
Work started on renovating the upper station of the aerial cable car in Bettmeralp.
Construction of the “Lägerlifte I / II”
Construction of today’s training lift and new ski lift running parallel to it. The new facilities are renamed “Lägerlifte I and II“.
1983 VTP conference in Bettmeralp
The association for the technical staff of Swiss cable cars (VTP) hold their annual assembly in Bettmeralp on October 12 – 14, 1993. VBB is responsible for the organization of this significant event.
1984 Opening of the new upper station in Bettmeralp
Partial opening of the completely rebuilt upper station in Bettmeralp in June. The capacity of the upper station is doubled by the
reconstruction. The entrance is changed so that there is now a spacious reception hall and an inviting forecourt. The problem with the
access road to Alpmatten is solved with an underpass on the north side of the station. A new gas station and electrical workshop are
built on the second first floor. The goods hall is extended. Gas pumps for fuel and oil distribution are installed. As an independent
trader, VBB takes charge of oil distribution in Bettmeralp. The connection between the two levels is ensured by two new lifts: one for
staff and one for merchandise. The reception hall is furnished with new cash desk facilities, a storage room for baggage, an information
desk, and a kiosk. The baggage office is equipped with a computer-controlled storage system which is unique in Switzerland. This system
ensures that incoming baggage can quickly be claimed. The new managers’ offic es are on the top floor.
The cost of this renovation amounts to CHF 3.5 million.
1985 Construction of the Aletsch glacier trail
In cooperation with the tourist office and the community, the Aletsch glacier trail is built from the upper station of the Bettmerhorn gondola along the Great Aletsch glacier towards lake Märjelen. This hiking trail is certainly one of the most stunning trails that Valais has in store. Heinrich Franzen, our sports facilities manager, is the driving force behind this project..
Treibende Kraft bei diesem Projekt ist der Betriebsleiter unserer Sportanlagen Herr Heinrich Franzen.
1985 New “Bachtla” sports center in Bettmeralp
The new ”Bachtla“ sports and recreation center is opened on December 13 – 15, 1985.
VBB supports this community project with a considerable stake.
1988 Change of director
After 37 years, Moritz Imhof, director, hands over the responsibility for management to Dr. Hans-Peter Zeiter. Together with Auxilius Stucky, Moritz Imhof was one of the pioneers and a driving force in the early years of the company. As a young man he took over the management of the company, a post which he held until his retirement. With his expertise and skills, he expertly guided the company through thick and thin.
1988/89 First artificial snow in Bettmeralp
For the first time, mobile snow makers are used for artificial snow in Bettmeralp.
1989 "Ski Card" System
In conjunction with the other cable car companies in the area (LMR, VBR, LFE), a project for an automatic access control system is realized for the winter season 1989/90. Tickets now contain a micro-chip holding all important information. At all sports facilities in the Aletsch area, the automatic access control system ensures that you can conveniently pass through the turnstiles without the hassle of taking out your tickets. The data collected facilitates the fair and reliable distribution of the income from the joint tickets in the Aletsch area. The so-called “Ski Card Facility“ is a pilot project. It is the first system of its kind installed in a skiing area. The cost of this pilot project amounts to CHF 1.3 million.
1989 Construction of the “Tanzbode” ski lift
Construction of the “Tanzbode” removable feeder ski lift.
1990 Purchase of the Betten FO – Bettmeralp aerial cable car (Section 1)
Purchase of the Betten FO – Betten Dorf aerial cable car from the previous owner, the community of Betten.
1990-1992 Renovation of the lower station in Betten FO
The flow of arriving and departing guests and residents of Bettmeralp is decisively improved by means of a new overall concept including architectural aspects and traffic management. Three main criteria were considered:
Safety:
Substantial improvements in passenger safety are made. Traffic and pedestrians, baggage and handling of goods are separated. A crosswalk over the road (Furkastrasse) is constructed. The FO platform is extended and connected to the two parking lots by a bridge.
A comprehensive range of services and facilities round off this user friendly construction. The departure areas of the aerial cable cars are raised to the same level. Spacious ticket counters and a snack bar await the passengers. The indoor and outdoor parking lots are resurfaced and lit.
The new building conveys a clear architectural message to its guests and visitors ”We are open to the world and generous” . This basic principle can clearly be seen in the building’s transparency, spaciousness, and planning.
The total cost of this project in the lower station amounts to approx. CHF 10 million.
Opening ceremony on October 2, 1992.
1991-1993 Installation of snow making facilities
The installation of snow making facilities is seen as an all-round project and therefore includes the existing facilities. The installation consists of a snow making facility combined with drinking water supply and waste water removal for the upper station of the gondola and the Bettmerhorn mountain restaurant, as well as a fire reserve and watering facility for the Bettmeralp area. Water is taken from lake Bettmer and transferred to pump station 1. From here the water is transferred to the different destinations. This mobile snow making facility is a low pressure system which ensures snow cover on exposed areas and smaller parts of the slopes. In the summer, this facility serves to water the lower alpine pastures. The cost of this investment into the future is approx. CHF 6.5 million.
1992 Renovation of the Bettmerhorn mountain restaurant
The open part of the circle construction is closed. That way, the number of seats is increased, the kitchen extended, and the restroom facilities laid out more spaciously. The renovation costs a total of CHF 2 million, which is twice what it cost to build the restaurant.
1994-1995 Construction of the Bettmerhorn ski tunnel
The Bettmerhorn ski tunnel takes took two years to build and opens for the winter season 1995/96. This tunnel, situated at the level of the gondola upper station, creates a new connection between Bettmeralp and Fiescheralp and also the Martiserbergeralpe and Laxeralpe skiing areas. The tunnel helps reduce the number of skiers using the busy Bettmerhorn slopes. In the summer, the tunnel leads around the steep south side of Bettmerhorn, which facilitates the construction of a hiking trail between Bettmerhorn and Eggishorn at the level of the upper stations.
1994 New chairman
On June 25, 1994, on the occasion of the general assembly, our chairman of the board, Erich Kronig, resigns from office. For 18 years (1976-1994) he presided over the financial issues of the company with a great deal of expertise, honesty, and care. Alois Eyholzer, hotelier and former mayor and vice-chairman is elected as VBB’s third chairman.
1994 Construction the „Schrattenweges“
VBB’s construction team extends the “Schrattenweg” trail from “Bettmer Chustelli” to “Hohbalm” slope.
1995 New gondola built at Bettmeralp - Bettmerhorn
The existing 4-passenger gondola is replaced by an 8-passenger gondola at Bettmeralp-Bettmerhorn. Capacity bottlenecks and a couple of costly and
urgent renovations make the decision to construct a new building rather than renovate the existing gondola an easy one to make. The capacity is
increased from 1,400 to 2,400 passengers per hour. Moreover, this new facility improves the comfort in the loading and unloading area and along the
route. This new high-performance gondola costs CHF 14.5 million.
The gondola is manufactured by Schätti and the Austrian firm Doppelmayr acts as supplier to Bettmeralp for the first time.
Opening of the new gondola on December 15, 1995.
1996 Extension of the upper station aerial cable car
The forecourt on the north side of the upper station is partially covered and offers a welcome shelter from bad weather. A baggage and ski storage room is built on the west side of the building. The kiosk and information desk are moved to the back, which improves the passenger flow.
Tanzbode ski lift is replaced by a more powerful removable button lift.
1997 Snow making facilities
An HKD system is installed and put into service on the steep slide of the Bettmerhorn tunnel slope.
Construction of the Bettmerhorn mountain restaurant’s outdoor patio
In December 1997, at the beginning of the winter season, an outdoor patio seating 200 is opened. It is situated in a sheltered spot between the upper station of the gondola and the Bettmerhorn mountain restaurant.
Information system for guests
VBB begins to set up an electronic information system. Part of this system are the electronic panorama boards. In the lower station of Betten FO, the internally connected information system for guests is launched.
1998 Construction of a new detachable 6-person chairlift
Construction of the Bettmeralp-Schönbiel detachable 6-person chairlift.
The old Bettmerhorn ski lift and the Schönboden triple chairlift are replaced by this new chairlift in summer 1998.
This new high-performance chairlift has a capacity of 2,800 passengers per hour and offers our visitors many advantages:
Comfort:
Easy loading thanks to state-of-the-art loading carpet at the lower station.
All chairs are equipped with canopies (bubbles).
Traveling time is reduced to 5.57 minutes per journey.
Safety:
Dangerous slope crossings are a thing of the past thanks to the removal of the Bettmerhorn ski lift.
Attractiveness:
The slopes are designed more attractively.
Opening of the new chairlift on Saturday, December 12, 1998.
Adaptation of the snow making facilities
Extension of the Salzgäb – Obere Bänna distribution line.
Construction of conducting lines in Bittelegg and at the lake dam.
Slope improvement/slope safety
Installation of nets to prevent rock fall above Hohbalm traverse.
Widening of the Bärgerpiste traverse. This work considerably improves the connection between the two areas of Fiescheralp and Bettmeralp.
Change of director
After 10 years, Dr. Hans-Peter Zeiter leaves the company to join Belalp-Bahnen, handing over the management to Anton König on October 15, 1998.
Anton König takes over as the company’s third managing director.
1999 Construction of the Läger II ski lift
Construction and opening of the Läger II ski lift.
The new facility to the west of the two other facilities, Trainer and Läger I, is ideal for small children and beginners.
Extension of the snow making facilities
Extension of the distribution area for the artificial snow making in the area of the upper station of the Schönbiel 6-passenger chairlift and the new Läger II ski lift.
2000 New ticket and monitoring system
In conjunction with the other cable car companies in the area (LMR, VBR, and LFE), the ticket and monitoring system by SkiData is installed in June 2000.
This state-of-the-art “hands free“ system operates on a double identification basis.
12 cash desks and 31 checkpoints are installed in Bettmeralp. The associated partners agree
on a close cooperation contract. Throughout the entire area,
the VBB data is processed by one associated computer.
New “Lägerlifte” staff building
The new staff building is ready just in time for the winter season 2000/01. Thanks to the new building, the loading area of the three lift facilities is significantly improved.
Snow making facilities
Extension of the snow making facilities in the area of the fun park and Alpmatten ski lifts.
Fixed rope route at Bettmerhorn
A fixed rope route is installed from the upper station of Bettmerhorn gondola leading toward Bettmerhorn.
2001 Extension of the snow making facilities/investment in fun park
To meet the snowboarders’ needs, snow making facilities are installed in the ”Wintertälli“ fun park. The snow making facilities are also extended.From an investment point of view, 2001 is rather a year of consolidation.
Communication/IT
A modern IT system and new phone equipment are installed in the office of VBB. A so-called ATM network is bought in conjunction with the other cable car companies in the Aletsch area. The cable cars are connected via fiber optic cables.
Artificial snow/slope grooming
A new Kässbohrer PB 300 W Polar is bought to maintain the high standards in slope preparation.
Four low pressure machines and six lances are bought for artificial snow making. Moreover, 40 shafts for
artificial snow making are built.
Land/buildings
Various land is bought from the Furka-Oberalp-Bahn (railway), now known as Matterhorn-Gotthard-Bahn.
A cabin is bought to gain space for the construction of the new Wurzenbord chairlift.
2003 Construction of the Wurzenbord chairlift
The old Wurzenbord ski lift from 1968 is demolished and replaced by a quad chairlift with a loading carpet. The facility also has a lifting table to help children board the lift. This feature is unique in Switzerland. The facility has a capacity of 2,000 passengers per hour. The manufacturers are Doppelmayr and Garaventa AG. Opening ceremony of the new high-performance chairlift on Saturday, December 13, 2003. At the same time as the construction of this new chairlift, snow making facilities at Wurzenbord are extended by 1.5 km (0.93 miles).
Change of name
At the general assembly on June 29, 2003, the company’s name, Verkehrsbetriebe Betten-Bettmeralp AG, is changed to Bettmeralp Bahnen AG. From its 52nd year of operation, the company therefore has its third name.
Page updated: 22.02.2007
Bettmeralp Bahnen AGCH-3992 Bettmeralp
T: +41 (0)27 928 41 41
F: +41 (0)27 928 41 42
bahnen@bettmeralp.ch