Our history

We are proud to have been contributing to the joy of movement for 50 years. Our guests have countless stories to tell, but there's another story too. It is the story of SkiStar.

Fifty years ago, on 20 August 1975, the two PEAB brothers Mats and Erik Paulsson went to Lindvallen in Sälen. They went there to look at a cabin, but came home with the keys to an entire holiday village; 37 cabins and a ski slope. 

An adventure began

What the brothers wanted was to give their employees a place to rest - a place for recreation and community. But what they really created was a foundation for memories that have been shared between generations.

Over the years, the soul of the mountain has always been the same: a source of joy, community and adventure. It's where children learnt to ski for the first time, kids found new friends in the lift queue, and friends met for long days of powder and sun. It's these memories that have kept people coming back, year after year.

From generation to generation

Today, fifty years later, SkiStar is more than a ski destination - it's part of millions of people's lives. The children who once trudged down the children's slope in Lindvallen now bring their own children to the mountains.

Technological advances have made the journey easier, but the essence remains the same. It's not just about skiing, it's about sharing experiences and a sense of community.

A look into the future

As we celebrate 50 years, we look back on a history of passion and commitment, but also look forward to new adventures. The guests of the future are already here - the children taking their first shaky turns today are the ones who will one day introduce their own children to skiing and life in the mountains.

Our milestones

• 1975 Brothers Erik and Mats Paulsson buy the Lindvallen ski resort in Sälen.
• 1976 Åre cable car is opened.
• 1983 Europe's first detachable chairlift is built in Hundfjället 4-chair (E1).
• 1994 Lindvallen i Sälen AB is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange.
• 1997 Tandådalen and Hundfjället AB are acquired.
• 1999 Åre-Vemdalen AB is acquired.
• 2000 Hemsedal, Norway's second largest ski resort, is acquired.
• 2001 The group name is changed to SkiStar AB.
• 2003 SkiStar Lodge Sälen is opened.
• 2005 Trysil, Norway's largest ski resort, is acquired.
• 2005 Hammarbybacken is acquired.
• 2006 Vemdalen Pass Express is opened.
• 2007 Alpine World Championships in Åre.
• 2008 Radisson Blu Resort Trysil opens.
• 2008 Klövsjö Express opens in Vemdalen.
• 2009 SkiStar Vacation Club starts.
• 2009 Experium in Sälen is opened.
• 2010 Grizzly Express, Sweden's largest and fastest express lift at the time, opens in Vemdalen.
• 2011 Radisson Blu Mountain Resort & Residences opens.
• 2011 Skalet Express opens in Vemdalen, Sweden's smallest express lift at the time and the only one in a children's and beginners' area.
• 2011 MySkiStar gets its first member.
• 2014 Skistarshop.com is launched.
• 2014 Västexpress is opened in Vemdalen.
• 2015 Hovde Express is inaugurated as Vemdalen's sixth express lift.
• 2016 68% of St Johann in Tirol in Austria is purchased.
• 2017 SkiStar Lodge Hemsedal Suites opens.
• 2019 Alpine World Championships in Åre.
• 2019 Scandinavian Mountains Airport opens between Sälen and Trysil.
• 2022 SkiStar Snow Parks in Sweden are developed together with SkiStar's new ambassador Jesper Tjäder.
• 2022 Stjärnliften, built in the centre of Åre to replace the World Cup lift
• 2023 App users can take part in challenges using QR codes in SkiStar Game.
• 2024 Test of new queuing system in Åre will provide a better overview of queuing times
• 2024 SkiStar Snow Park in Trysil is developed together with SkiStar ambassador Birk Ruud.
• 2025 SkiStar turns 50 years old