Celebratory anniversary: ​​Wexl Arena presents the world's first pond lift!

Celebratory anniversary: ​​Wexl Arena presents the world's first pond lift!

On September 27, 2025, St. Corona celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Wexl Arena and the opening of the world's first pond lift designed exclusively for cyclists. The event attracted numerous guests from the areas of sport, business and politics, including the state governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner. In her speech, she highlighted the personal connection to the region that she has maintained since childhood and emphasized the importance of the project for future generations in the region.

The Wexl Arena has developed from a regional sports facility into an important social, tourist and economic project. The takeover of the facilities by the state of Lower Austria was a decisive step towards the transformation into year-round tourism. This development is not only tailored to regional needs, but also represents a response to climate change, which required the traditional lift systems to be dismantled. This lays the foundation for new economic perspectives.

Economic prospects and sustainable tourism

For 2024, a sales effect of around 25 million euros is expected in the region, and tax revenue of over five million euros will also be generated. These figures illustrate the economic advantages of the chosen change of course. The pond lift is a significant expansion of the Wexl Arena's leisure and sports offering and will strengthen the region in the context of sustainable tourism, which is becoming increasingly important. The dimension of sustainability in tourism is diverse, including environmental aspects, social responsibility and economic considerations, as is also dealt with in the context of the topic “Sustainability and Tourism”, explains the Federal Environment Agency.

The managing director of the Wexl Arena, Karl Morgenbesser, spoke about how important the emotional dimension of the project is for the identity of the region. The cooperation between the population, the mayors and property owners is seen as crucial to the success of the project. In his speech, Mayor Michael Gruber reflected on the eventful history of St. Corona on the move and the transformation from winter tourism to a year-round offer.

Rainy weather did not deter the guests who celebrated the anniversary event and the reopening of the pond lift. With representatives from ecoplus, including Helmut Miernicki, and Hans Niessl, President of Sport Austria, the Wexl Arena was highlighted as a showcase project for the combination of business, tourism and sport. This anniversary celebration not only marks a look back at the successes of the last ten years, but also represents a departure towards a sustainable future for the region.

The development of the Wexl Arena and the creation of new services highlight the need for innovative approaches to tourism that benefit both the region and visitors. Through the combination of leisure activities, economic prospects and sustainable development, St. Corona is positioning itself as a model region in tourism.