Lease Available: Seeking an innkeeper at 1,415 meters for the “ Katrin ” mountain inn in Bad Ischl
Katrin —cable car , GmbH is leasing out the mountain inn located at the top station of the Katrin —cable car —starting with the 2026/27 winter season. We are looking for an operator with culinary skills, financial stability, and a passion for hospitality.
The Location: The Katrin is the local mountain of the imperial town of Bad Ischl in the Salzkammergut region. Since 1959, the cable car —Austria’s first single-cable circulating ropeway—has been transporting approximately 100,000 passengers per year up the mountain, including many regulars with season passes who visit even on days when the weather isn’t ideal. The inn is located directly at the mountain station: every cable car passenger arrives right at the door. There is no road leading up the mountain—people and goods are transported exclusively via the “ cable car.” It features a large sun terrace with a view of the Dachstein, its own seminar and event room, approximately 90 seats inside the building, and about 100 on the sun terrace, fully furnished and ready for immediate operation. The equipment will be taken over from the current operator; further details will be discussed in person.
What we offer: a multi-year lease with an option to renew, a fair, predictable lease with no revenue sharing, streamlined logistics through the “ cable car ” association, and a landlord who views the inn as the heart of the mountain experience—with joint marketing efforts and quick decision-making processes.
Starting out during the quieter winter season allows time for training and team-building before the busy summer season begins in April. The existing equipment will be transferred from the current operator; we’ll facilitate this process as neutral mediators and work with both parties to prepare an inventory list, a transfer agreement, and a handover report. We’ll discuss the details in a personal meeting. And the location is a sound investment: Revenue has demonstrably performed very well in recent years; details on this will also be discussed in a confidential meeting.
What you should know: A mountain business is not the same as a valley business. The inn is open on all days the “ cable car ” is in operation—weekends and holidays are the peak days for business. The “ Katrin ” is a mountain popular for day trips and hikes, with no alpine skiing; the winter season is short, and the majority of revenue is generated during the summer months. On the mountain, there is basic sleeping quarters for one person, but no living quarters—the operator is responsible for their own residence and staff accommodations.
What we’re looking for: several years of experience in the restaurant industry (ideally in seasonal, tourist, or mountain dining), well-thought-out ideas for running the business with a regional flair, financial stability, a hands-on approach, and team spirit: Up in the mountains, the “ cable car,” inn, alpine hut, and bar work closely together—the mountains have no room for lone wolves.
Please submit your application—including a brief description of your ideas for the inn, your professional background, references, and a rough cost estimate—by September 14, 2026, to bewerbung@katrinseilbahn.com. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis—so it pays to submit yours early. We will be happy to send you the detailed property description upon request. Discretion is assured.
Katrin cable car GmbH · Johannes Aldrian, MBA (Managing Director) · Kaltenbachstraße 62, 4820 Bad Ischl · +43 6132 23788-22 · bewerbung@katrinseilbahn.com · www.katrinseilbahn.com
