The ongoing wave of bankruptcies in Germany continues, with the latest victim being the “Mein Homberg” ski resort, which has succumbed to financial pressures driven by mild winters and rising costs.
Bankruptcy due to climate change
The effects of climate change are becoming increasingly apparent in Germany, particularly for winter sports enthusiasts who are seeing less snow and shorter ski seasons. This trend has put considerable pressure on ski resorts, leading to the recent bankruptcy of the “Mein Homberg” ski resort in Winterberg-Züschen, North Rhine-Westphalia.
The operators of “Mein Homberg,” including its associated restaurant “Homberg Jause,” have filed for insolvency, with proceedings already underway at the Arnsberg District Court, according to the newspaper Sauerlandkurier. This development is particularly disheartening as the ski resort changed hands only two and a half years ago, when Jan and Nina Homann purchased it to fulfill a lifelong dream.
However, the challenges posed by milder winters were not the only factors contributing to the resort’s financial woes. Rising energy prices, investments in ski lift infrastructure, and consumer spending cutbacks also played significant roles in pushing the business to the brink. Jan Homann owns 75% of the ski resort, while the remaining 25% is shared by local entities, including the Ski Club Züschen and the Heimatverein. A provisional insolvency administrator from Dortmund has been appointed to manage the proceedings.
Website offline, future of ‘Mein Homberg’ uncertain
“Mein Homberg,” a small ski resort in the Sauerland region, was considered a hidden gem, boasting seven lifts, four kilometers of ski slopes, and 30 kilometers of cross-country trails. However, as reported by Schneehoehen.de, a ski resort overview portal, both the resort’s website and webcams have been taken offline. The website is currently inaccessible, and the prospect of the ski lifts operating in the coming winter season appears highly uncertain.
