A ski resort located in the French Alps, called La Sambuy, has announced that it is going to be shutting down permanently.
The decision comes due to the impact of global warming, which has led to a lack of snow in the winters in the region.
The charming resort for families is located in close proximity to the Trois Vallees ski area in France.
Up until the announcement of its decision to shut down, the business was offering only a month of skiing during winter in the past couple of years.
Loss in business
On the ski resort’s announcement to cease operations, Jacques Dalex, the Mayor of La Sambuy, said that in the past, the resort used to have a long season of skiing.
The duration of ski season would usually start on the 1st of December and last all the way up to the 30th of March.
However, due to changes in the climate, the resort was only able to operate for less than five weeks. It would open up in January and close its doors in early February.
Consequently, the business suffered an estimated yearly operating deficit of around €500,000.
On the other hand, the maintenance of the resort, mainly the ski lifts, incurred an annual cost of €80,000.
La Sambuy
The ski resort, in the past couple of years, had received criticism from people who believed that it had significant room for improvement.
However, with the impact of climate change, the business was heavily struggling and unable to make any upgrades.
As of now, the resort has a total of three ski lifts and only a handful of ski slopes. The highest point of these slopes can reach an altitude of up to 1,850 meters, or 6,070 feet.
In the current year, the French Alps experienced only minimal snowfall. As a result, the resort could only operate for a couple of weeks in January and February.
La Sambuy was popular among visitors for its affordability and authenticity. Families searching for a fun alpine experience and hoping to not break the bank would flock to the resort.
A seven-day long ski pass was priced at just €97, which made it an attractive option for those hoping to enjoy the slopes and not take on high lift pass costs.
Current situation
On the 10th of September, the website of the ski resort put up a notice and stated that it would be closing down for good.
The message extended gratitude to everyone who had ever visited the resort and appreciated all the wonderful years of its operation.
The management of the resort marked the end of an era for the spot, as well as its cherished memories.
La Sambuy is not the only French ski resort that is facing the repercussions of climate change.
In the previous year, a small alpine ski location called Saint-Firmin announced that it would be removing its ski lift.
This was after the winter season shrunk from months to simply weeks, a situation that was attributed to the effects of climate change.
