“Wexl Base” Officially Opened In The Wexl Arena St. Corona

The “Wexl Base”, the new service center in the Wexl Arena St. Corona, was recently officially opened. Numerous guests such as ecoplus managing director Helmut Miernicki, ecoplus supervisory board chairman Jochen Danninger, mayors from the region, Wexl Arena managing director Karl Morgenbesser and his team, architects and construction companies celebrated the new service center, which is “the Wexl Arena, together with state governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner the finishing touches,” said Mikl-Leitner.

“The Wexl Arena in St. Corona with the new Wexl Base is a prime example of the further development of a pure ski area into a year-round destination,” said the state governor. The area, “which offers experiences such as the motor skills park, adventure playgrounds and 100 kilometers of trails for everyone from young to old, from beginners to professionals, 365 days a year,” is a national and international showcase project, “from the Washington Post to a role model for year-round tourism.” It is the basis that “makes the region into an innovative and ecological region of the future,” says Mikl-Leitner, “and the basis for tourism.” The success, which has been achieved over ten years in the last few years Millions of euros have been invested can also be proven with figures: “Since 2015, total sales have increased from 450,000 to over three million euros in the 2020/21 season, and the number of overnight stays has also increased.”

A project like this can only be implemented if everyone pulls together, the state governor concluded: “The state, region and communities with the support of the ecoplus business agency and, above all, with enthusiastic, committed, competent and innovative people like Karl Morgenbesser, the strong driving force for the entire region is.”

Wexl Arena managing director Karl Morgenbesser spoke about the idea, the development and the challenges of the project and emphasized: “The most important thing for success is a strong team, so thanks to the entire Wexl Arena team.” The region is now a model excursion destination that, says Morgenbesser, “the good leisure infrastructure and the high quality of life can also contribute to more people settling here and wanting to live here.”

This was also emphasized by ecoplus supervisory board chairman Jochen Danninger, who thanked him for the implementation of this project, “which is a prime example of how success can be achieved in Lower Austria when the state, communities and innovative minds work together. After words of thanks from Mayor Michael Gruber, Pastor Herbert Morgenbesser blessed the new Wexl Base service center.

Expectations of everyone involved were met

Not only will the popular mountain bike trails be a magnet from next summer, but also the family mountain bike store in the Wexl Base. The motto is to test mountain bikes on the right terrain and buy them straight away. Everything that makes your mountain bike heart beat faster is offered to the family and all mountain bike fans. “With the Wexl Base, we are not only opening a building that serves as a contact point for our guests, but also a space that reflects the unique atmosphere of the Wexl Arena,” says Karl Morgenbesser, Managing Director of the Wexl Arena. “Our mission is to create unforgettable To create experiences and thus make a valuable contribution to the development of an attractive living space. High-quality leisure and sports facilities are a key pillar of this. We are happy to be part of these casual leisure spaces in Lower Austria, which make the regions so worth living in.”

Multifunctional building for guests and employees

The first drafts were already on the table in 2018, and the exact plan was gradually developed, which is based on the needs of the guests and employees, based on the successful concept of the Wexl Trails and Wexl Arena. “The multifunctional building combines many different functions under one roof and can respond to subsequent changes in usage requirements. The exterior design of the modern “Stadl” is based on the surrounding buildings with its classic board facade and high-tech glazing,” says Christoph Feuchtenhofer, who planned this project.

Modern and energy-saving design

170m3 of solid wood was formed using prefabricated timber construction with an untreated wooden façade within eight months to form a compact building with low land consumption.
Energy efficiency was considered at every possible angle and a photovoltaic system was also used for direct consumption for the lift and cooling of the building. Local expertise was the focus, as around 25 companies, mainly from the Neunkirchen district, were commissioned to construct the building.

financing

The total costs of €3 million are borne by entrepreneurs and shareholders Norbert Luckerbauer and Karl Morgenbesser as private individuals, through funding from ecoplus regional funding, a silent participation from NOEBEG and financing from Raiffeisenbank Wiener Alpen.

ecoplus Managing Director Helmut Miernicki: “As the state’s business agency, ecoplus is a strong partner for projects that promote the development of the regions as part of ecoplus regional funding, as is the case here with the Wexl Arena. At the same time, through our subsidiary ecoplus Alpin GmbH, we have been accompanying the Wexl Arena on its successful path into the future since 2015.”

Ski school gets new management

From this winter onwards, the Pflug-Seiser ski school will be located in the new building. The two sons Florian and Fabian have taken over the family business in St. Corona and Mönichkirchen am Wechsel and will be running the ski schools in the ski areas from this winter.

Bookings for weekend, holiday and weekday courses as well as private lessons are possible online.

The next development steps

In order to cope with the influx of out-of-town guests and overnight guests and to stabilize operations even on days of bad weather, more overnight accommodations are needed. The development of a campsite with overnight accommodation is currently being planned. The hotel project is still on the table and will hopefully be accepted by investors soon. The expansion of the mountain bike trails and the construction of a second bike lift await successful financing before construction can begin.