The Erzgebirgskreis district wants to sell the Fichtelberghaus, which is popular with tourists, to a private investor for just under two million euros. The district council is to decide on this tonight. The purchase price is said to be 1.975 million euros.
The buyer is Fichtelberghaus Invest GmbH, which is backed by the Gläß family of entrepreneurs from the Vogtland region. They already lease the Fichtelberghaus, operate the four-seater chairlift on the Fichtelberg and could also take over the cable car in the future. They would then operate the entire alpine ski area on Saxony's highest mountain.
The plateau, including the hotel and restaurant at an altitude of 1,215 meters, currently belongs to the Erzgebirgskreis. The hotel was built at the end of the 1990s based on a historical model and reopened in 1999. According to the information provided, investments in the high single-digit million range are now necessary, which the district is no longer willing to bear. This includes new ventilation systems, fire protection and the general refurbishment of the bathrooms in the 28 hotel rooms.
Only one concrete purchase offer
In June, the district therefore launched an appeal for the sale. According to the submission to the district council, more than 30 interested parties requested the documents. However, only the Gläß family had made a concrete offer. The investor is to be obliged to carry out the refurbishment within five years and to continue to operate the Fichtelberghaus as a restaurant. Failure to do so could result in a contractual penalty. In addition, the district reserves the right of first refusal should the new owner sell the property again.
In Oberwiesenthal, the intention to sell was initially met with reservations. The town council had appealed to the district to at least keep important areas on the plateau in public ownership. The draft resolution takes this into account. Accordingly, an area of just under 3,000 square meters next to the mountain station of the suspension railroad is to be separated off and sold to the city for just under 25,000 euros.
Land has no interest in the property
Oberwiesenthal itself had reportedly not seen itself in a position to buy the Fichtelberghaus at market value. The state of Saxony, which has a right of first refusal, also declined. According to budget regulations, such a property can only be acquired if this is necessary to fulfill the tasks of the state in the foreseeable future, the Ministry of Finance had explained. However, this need was not given.
The spa town of Oberwiesenthal with the Fichtelberg is a popular excursion and vacation destination in the Ore Mountains and attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. For every 2,000 inhabitants, there are around 4,400 guest beds and more than half a million overnight stays per year. In winter, there are several ski slopes, cross-country ski trails and a toboggan run, while in summer there are cycling, horse riding, a fly line and a summer toboggan run.
Criticism of the privatization of the mountain
High investments are also needed in the facilities of Saxony's largest alpine ski resort. The costs for the new lift on the Himmelsleiter, including the slope extension and a new reservoir for artificial snowmaking, are estimated at around 21 million euros. Entrepreneur Rainer Gläß is also on hand as an investor here.
In November, the town council gave the green light for the sale of the previously municipal Fichtelberg Schwebebahn GmbH (FSB) to Gläß' lift company. The exact value of the cable car is now to be determined by an expert opinion and the city council will take a final vote on the sale in a few months' time.
Gläß made his fortune with a software company. However, his involvement in the Fichtelberg is not without controversy. The Oberwiesenthal town council was also critical of the sale of the suspension railroad. The Left Party in particular sharply criticized the planned privatization of the Fichtelberghaus. "I think it is irresponsible to become dependent on a single family," said Rico Gebhardt, member of the state parliament. Saxony's highest mountain does not belong in private hands.
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