“It’s time to take action”: the Alti Aigoual ski resort, a four-season transformation in keeping with the times ?

La station de ski a ouvert ses portes ce dimanche 15 décembre. Illustration Midi Libre – MiKAEL ANISSET

Between ambitious projects and uncertainties, the Alti Aigoual resort is seeking to reinvent itself. This jewel of the Aigoual massif is taking a decisive turn to become a four-season resort, but the path remains strewn with pitfalls. We take stock.

The Gard ski resort Alti Aigoual is facing a crucial shift: the gradual abandonment of its “all-ski” model in favor of a four-season offering. But yesterday, Friday, December 20, the meeting organized by the AVECévennes citizens' association highlighted a persistent dilemma: while everyone agrees on the need to diversify the activity, the path to take remains unclear.

“It is necessary to have a locomotor activity”

“We have already tested summer activities in 2022 and 2023 such as mountain bike rental or the equestrian center. It doesn't work, it's not profitable”, deplores Denis Boissière, co-manager and spokesperson for the resort. Her unequivocal observation is shared by Muriel Balembois, president of the Aigoual tourist office: “It is necessary to have locomotor activity around summer activities.”

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

What would these locomotives be ? Ideas are flying around. A treetop adventure park, a zip line, an aqua-fun park… but it is the “bike park” project that seems to be winning the vote. Ski lifts in the summer and mountain bike descents, a proposal deemed ecological, profitable and adapted to the spirit of the place. Bruno Bonniol, sports director for the City of Nîmes and former director of several Alpine resorts, warns: “You have to target your clientele. And this clientele is families.”

Aigoual, a mountain to be conquered

Denis Boissière, the soul of this small resort, believes in it: “It is time to take action. Aigoual has been waiting for this transformation for a long time. The Causses Aigoual Cévennes community of communes is going to invest 1.4 million euros in the renovation of the buildings. It must be used all year round, not just in winter.”In the meantime, the winter season timidly began last Sunday, December 15, with an early opening – a first in 50 years. “The snow conditions are not great, but it's nice”.

Read also: Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing: "The snow is good!", the Alti Aigoual ski resort opens this Sunday!

However, the financial emergency is very real: without €35,000 by the end of the month, the resort could be forced to close on December 31 due to lack of insurance. Initiatives to make up for this deficit are multiplying: Leetchi kitty, solidarity packages, sponsorships, etc. A hundred solidarity packages have already been sold, but there is still €25,000 to be found. Not enough to discourage the resort's co-manager: “When it snows, we have a lot of people. We hope that the mobility of elected officials and residents will keep the resort alive.”

I subscribe to read the rest