French Ski Area Closes for Good
30th June 2025
Last modified on August 26th, 2025
Alpe du Grand Serre has announced its permanent winter closure. The resort says it is a direct consequence of climate change and insufficient snowfall.
The resort is in the French Dauphine Alps and sits at an altitude of 1,368 m.
It offered 540 acres of skiing from 14 lifts.
It was mostly skied by local people and families from the Grenoble urban area.
The resort was set to close last winter, but gained a last-minute reprieve:
The past decade has seen a sharp decline in natural snow and the ski area needed to rely on increasingly costly and energy-intensive artificial snow production.
The 2024-2025 season proved particularly challenging, with extended periods of warm weather.
It lead to a sharp drop in visitors and mounting financial losses.
“This was an incredibly difficult decision, one we hoped we would never have to make,” said the local Mayor, Jean-Luc Dubois
“Alpe du Grand Serre has been the heart of our community for generations, providing livelihoods, joy, and memories.
“But the reality is stark: the snow simply isn’t there as it used to be, and the economic model is no longer sustainable.”
The closure will have an impact on the small communes surrounding the resort, including La Mure, Cholonge, and Saint-Honoré.
Many jobs, from ski instructors and lift operators to hotel staff and restaurant owners, will be affected.
Many local businesses depended almost entirely on winter tourism.
“Alpe du Grand Serre’s situation is unfortunately not unique,” said a glaciologist at the University of Grenoble Alpes, Dr Elara Vance.
“Many resorts across the Alps are grappling with similar challenges.
“This closure serves as a stark reminder of the tangible impacts of climate change on our landscapes, economies, and cherished traditions.”
Local authorities are exploring options for economic diversification, including promoting summer tourism activities like hiking and mountain biking.
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