Alpe du Grand Serre Ski Area To Close Its Doors

The Alpe du Grand Serre ski area, located in the French Alps, is set to close its doors for the final time at the end of the current season. The decision comes after years of declining visitor numbers and increasing operating costs.

The Alpe du Grand Serre ski area has been a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders for decades, offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains and a variety of terrain for all levels. However, in recent years, the area has faced increasing competition from other nearby resorts, as well as challenges posed by climate change.

With the closure of the resort, 200 direct and indirect jobs are threatened. At Alpe du Grand Serre, Florent Battistel, director of the resort's ESF said  "there are 25 instructors, so 25 families. The ski school operates throughout the summer season to prepare for the winter season. We have a fairly short season, we are in the middle of the mountains. But there you go, the activity was made for a multi-activity. So this model is good here. And we are going to lose all of that. A sudden shutdown would be a tragedy for the entire valley."

Lauranne Vincent, owner of a sports store agreed "We are both devastated and in shock. It's a brutal decision, two months before opening. On the contrary, we were optimistic. We thought that all the lights were green ," 

Same story for Frédérique Laurence and her husband. The couple took over the only grocery store in La Morte. The project of a lifetime. "They're completely leaving us hanging. We still have payments to make since we've only been here for four years. Who's going to pay? We'll have ruined our lives. That's what's likely to happen to us ," 

Since 2017, the Matheysine community has spent 2.8 million euros to support the resort. A four-season diversification project was due to complete in two years.

Local Gérard Hugues said "Not so long ago, we were told to give ourselves two years of winter operations to prepare a new project . The town, the shopkeepers, how are they going to continue?"

Speaking of the project Caroline Saurat, president of the Matheysine community of communes said "What I announced yesterday was that we made the unfortunate observation that the community of communes could not cope financially for the next two years, and above all, it could not undertake a new transition project."

Alpe du Grand Serre offered 55 miles (34 kilometers) of marked runs spread across 136 acres of skiable terrain. The resort has a vertical drop of 2,680 feet (817 meters), with a base at 4,485 feet (1,367 meters) and its summit at 7,165 feet (2,184 meters). It is serviced by 15 lifts, three chairlifts, 11 surface lifts, and one magic carpet. The resort had 34 runs, with a mix of difficulty levels: 65% of the terrain is suitable for beginners and intermediates (36 miles of easy and intermediate runs), while only about 4% (2 miles) is classified as difficult.

The closure of the Alpe du Grand Serre ski area will have a significant impact on the local economy, as it is a major source of employment and tourism revenue. Efforts are underway to find alternative economic development opportunities for the region.

While the closure of the Alpe du Grand Serre is a sad loss for the local community, it is a reminder of the challenges facing the ski industry as it adapts to changing conditions.