The Alpe du Grand Serre ski resort in the French Isère region is scheduled to reopen for the upcoming winter season after the La Morte municipal council voted unanimously on September 28, 2026, to approve a management agreement with a subsidiary of SATA Group. The decision reverses years of fiscal uncertainty that repeatedly pushed the 55-kilometer piste network toward permanent closure.
Municipal Approval of the SATA Group Management Agreement
The La Morte municipal council approved a délégation de service public (DSP) contract, handing operational control to a subsidiary of SATA Group. SATA previously operated the resort’s ski lifts during past seasons. The municipal government assumed direct oversight of the property earlier in the spring before finalizing this external operating agreement. Local stakeholders, including the ESF de l’Alpe du Grand Serre ski school, characterized the vote as the start of a new chapter for the alpine destination. Municipal leaders declined further comment to actu Grenoble ahead of the formal contract signing.
Official Contract Signing and December Opening Timeline
The formal signing of the DSP agreement with SATA was scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, 2026. This administrative step finalizes the resort’s recovery plan ahead of the winter season kickoff planned for December. Located in the Matheysine region south of Grenoble, Alpe du Grand Serre features approximately 55 kilometers of ski runs and maintains regional accessibility via public transportation links.
Recent Financial Performance Versus Past Closure Threats
The resort’s survival contrasts sharply with prior shutdown announcements. In the autumn of 2024, administrators announced a permanent closure before reversing the decision shortly afterward. Another closure threat emerged in July 2026 when the community of communes of the Matheysine (CCM) voted to halt lift operations after September 28, 2026. An interim agreement between SATA and the CCM kept the lifts running for the 2025–2026 winter season, which operator SATA recorded as the best financial and operational period in the resort’s history.
Alpe du Grand Serre Resort Operations FAQ
When does Alpe du Grand Serre open for the winter season?
The winter operating window is scheduled to begin in December, following the formal signing of the management agreement.
Who operates the ski lifts at Alpe du Grand Serre?
A subsidiary of SATA Group manages the ski lifts under a délégation de service public (DSP) agreement approved by the La Morte municipal council.
How many kilometers of ski slopes does the resort offer?
Alpe du Grand Serre provides approximately 55 kilometers of pistes in the Matheysine region of the Isère department.
Why was the resort facing closure?
Local authorities, including the community of communes of the Matheysine, previously voted to halt operations due to financial and structural pressures before operators and local officials reached successive rescue agreements.
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