Berg- und Schilift Schwaz-Pill Gesellschaft m.b.H.

Berg- und Schilift Schwaz-Pill Gesellschaft m.b.H. is an Austrian alpine transport and tourism company based in Schwaz, Tyrol. It is best known under the brand name Kellerjochbahn, the cable car and ski area that connects the town of Schwaz with the Kellerjoch massif. The company operates a double chairlift from Grafenast at roughly 1,887 metres up to the Arbeser mountain station, serving hikers and mountain bikers in summer and skiers, tobogganers, ski tourers and snowshoe walkers in winter. The area also includes the Hecherhaus mountain inn, a sun terrace and the 'Silberwelt' children's playground. The business has its roots in the early 1950s, when the Hecherhaus was built and the first single-seat chairlifts were installed between Schwaz, Arzberg and Grafenast. Over the following decades the lift network was repeatedly expanded, rebuilt and modernised, including the addition of gondola cabins, drag lifts and a double chairlift. In 1987 the operating company was converted into the present limited liability company, Berg- und Schilift Schwaz-Pill Gesellschaft mbH. Since the 1990s the company has been led by private managing directors, and it has continued to invest in snowmaking, hospitality and lift infrastructure. Today the Kellerjochbahn positions itself as a year-round alpine excursion destination for active visitors and families, offering hiking, mountain biking, winter sports and Tyrolean hospitality. It sells season passes and participates in regional ticket schemes such as the Freizeitticket Tirol and Snow Card Tirol. The company remains a privately held Austrian business focused on the local Tyrolean market.

The history of the Kellerjochbahn begins in the early 1950s. In 1951 the Hecherhaus was built on the Kellerjoch, providing a base for visitors to the mountain above Schwaz. In 1955, as one of the first cable car systems in all of Austria, two single-seat chairlifts were put into operation, running from Schwaz via Arzberg to Grafenast. This marked the birth of mechanised alpine transport in the area. In 1959 the mountain ride was extended from Grafenast to the Arbeser using egg-shaped gondola cabins. Two years later, in 1961, a new T-bar lift opened on the Arbeserkopf. In 1962 the Waizer slope was newly laid out for the Austrian Alpine Ski Championships of 1963. In 1963 the Frieden drag lift at Grafenast went into service. A decade later, in 1973, the Nordlift drag lift was newly built with a length of 960 metres. Between 1980 and 1988 the lifts and slopes underwent extensive rebuilding and expansion. In 1980 the Bockstall drag lift was renewed, the Arbeser T-bar lift was shortened, and the family descent was widened. In 1981 Section III from Grafenast to Arbeser was converted into a single-seat chairlift, garages were added at Grafenast, the Nordlift was converted to self-service, and the valley station in Schwaz was rebuilt with new WC facilities. A free ski bus was offered for the first time. In 1987 the operating company was converted from a stock corporation (AG) into the present limited liability company, Berg- und Schilift Schwaz-Pill Gesellschaft mbH, under managing director Dr. Reinalter. In 1988 the descent from Grafenast to Arzberg was extended, the Nordlift was dismantled, the concessions for single-seat chairlifts I and II were extended, and a concession was obtained for a new double chairlift for Section III from Grafenast to Arbeser. From 1990 to 1997 the company entered a phase of takeover and expansion. In 1990 Werner Kostenzer and Klaus Wetscher took over the Kellerjochbahn. In 1992 Werner Kostenzer became sole managing director. On 11 November 1994 he signed the purchase contract for the Hecherhaus. In 1994–95 a new snowmaking system was built, and in 1997 a winter garden was added to the Hecherhaus. Since 2010 the ski area has been further expanded. In 2010 the single-seat chairlift Section I from Schwaz to Arzberg was shut down after its concession expired. The company continues to operate the double chairlift from Grafenast to Arbeser and maintains the associated hiking and winter sports infrastructure. Today it markets itself as a year-round alpine destination under the Kellerjochbahn brand.

• 2010

  Single-seat chairlift Section I Schwaz–Arzberg shut down after concession expired

• 1997

  Winter garden added to Hecherhaus

• 1995

  New snowmaking system built (1994–95)

• 1994

  Purchase contract for Hecherhaus signed on 11 November

• 1992

  Werner Kostenzer becomes sole managing director

• 1990

  Werner Kostenzer and Klaus Wetscher take over the Kellerjochbahn

• 1988

  Extension of descent Grafenast–Arzberg; Nordlift dismantled; concession for new double chairlift Section III

• 1987

  Conversion of the AG into Berg- und Schilift Schwaz-Pill Gesellschaft mbH

• 1981

  Conversion of Section III Grafenast–Arbeser to single-seat chairlift; garages added; Nordlift converted to self-service; valley station rebuilt; first free ski bus

• 1980

  Renewal of Bockstall drag lift, shortening of Arbeser T-bar lift, widening of family descent

• 1973

  New Nordlift drag lift built with 960 m length

• 1963

  Frieden drag lift at Grafenast put into service

• 1962

  Waizer slope newly laid out for the Austrian Alpine Ski Championships 1963

• 1961

  New T-bar lift opened on the Arbeserkopf

• 1959

  Extension of the mountain ride from Grafenast to Arbeser with egg-shaped gondolas

• 1955

  Two single-seat chairlifts from Schwaz via Arzberg to Grafenast put into operation, among the first cable cars in Austria

• 1951

  Construction of the Hecherhaus

Year-round alpine excursion destination for active visitors and families, combining cable car access, outdoor recreation and Tyrolean hospitality.

• Kellerjochbahn double chairlift

  Double chairlift from Grafenast (approx. 1,887 m) to Arbeser mountain station.

• Hecherhaus mountain inn

  Mountain inn with sun terrace and the 'Silberwelt' children's playground.

• Winter sports facilities

  Ski slopes, toboggan runs, ski touring and snowshoe hiking trails.

• Summer hiking and biking trails

  Numerous hiking trails and mountain bike routes through shaded forests.

• Sommerfrische am Kellerjoch
• Ticket pre-sale 2026

1. 1Bergsport, Erholung und Tiroler Gastfreundschaft - Kellerjochbahnkellerjochbahn.at
2. 2Tradition und Geschichte der KellerjochBahn - Kellerjochbahnkellerjochbahn.at
3. 3Berg- und Schilift Schwaz-Pill Gesellschaft m.b.H. - Wikidatawikidata.org