Our History

"The Municipal Madness"

It all began in 1965 when local enthusiasts decided to revive the increasingly depopulated village of Idre in northern Dalarna. They convinced Idre Municipality to establish a foundation together with Friluftsfrämjandet, and soon, the plans were set in motion.

The idea of starting a ski resort was dubbed "the municipal madness" by a skeptical public, but it would soon prove to be a true success story.

1985-1997

Wet, Steep, and a Building Boom

• 1985 - Idre Fjäll finally gets an authentic fäbod (mountain pasture farm), with animals and cultural experiences that become highly appreciated by summer visitors.
• 1986-87 - The sports hall and indoor swimming facility are expanded with a popular adventure pool. New accommodations are built at a rapid pace.
• 1995 -The passionate pioneers and first host couple, Inga-Lill and Ingemar Axelsson, step down from their leadership roles after 28 years.
• 1997 - More new ski lifts are built, and Chocken, Sweden’s steepest groomed slope with a 46° incline, opens. Chocken allows speeds of over 200 km/h.

1999-2015

Pernilla, Aske and Skiathlon

• 1999 - Our mascot Aske is born! Additionally, 50 spacious apartments are built above the sports hall.
• 2003 - Dählie moves into his cabin, and Pernilla Wiberg inaugurates the new mountain hotel, which she co-owns. The Väst-6 lift is introduced, and Idre Fjäll celebrates 35 years with plenty of exciting new features.
• 2008 - A new six-seater chairlift is built in the Nord area, starting lower and reaching all the way to the mountain’s peak. A new 7.5 km illuminated cross-country trail replaces the old one.
• 2011 - The largest single investment of 75.4 million SEK is made, developing the Ost area with new lifts, slopes, a snow system, and our beautiful top restaurant.
• 2015 - The first charging station for electric cars is installed, and the ski stadium is renovated. Idre Fjäll became one of the few resorts capable of hosting skiathlon competitions. The resort also reaches FIS standards for men’s alpine slalom.

2016-2023

More Biking and the Gondola

• 2016/2017 - Idre Fjäll is named"Ski Resort of the Year"at SLAO’s annual meeting.
• 2018 - Idre Fjäll celebrates its 50th anniversary with a grand celebration. Andreas Starenhed takes over as CEO, and mountain biking explodes as a key summer attraction.
• 2019 - A completely new website and online booking system are launched. Two new restaurants open, introducing an updated food concept focused on sustainability and quality. At the same time, new bike trails are built.
• 2020 -The pandemic hits the tourism industry hard, including Idre Fjäll. We are forced to furlough and lay off a significant portion of our staff, and the entire resort shuts down on April 5. When we safely reopen on June 22, we are grateful that so many guests choose to visit us.
• 2021 -"A Future Closer to Nature" is launched, marking the biggest investment in Idre Fjäll’s 50-year history. Plans for new ski areas, bike trails, activities, and a doubling of guest capacity by 2037 gain momentum. The summer season breaks all previous records. This year, we also have the great honor of hosting the World Championships in ski and snowboard cross, as well as the World Cup in orienteering.
• 2023 – The grand opening of our gondola lift, with a capacity of 3,000 people per hour. We also construct new ski runs and drag lifts.