Ruka in Finnish Lapland, which has one of the world’s longest ski-seasons for a non-glacier resort, operating from early October to early May each season, has announced plans for a second base village, along with a gondola connecting this to the existing base. Some of these developments will already be complete for next season whilst other upgrades will take place over future years.
Ruka are working with Canada-based Ecosign Mountain Planners on the new development which will see the new resort base, named ‘RukaValley’ build in the east side of the resort. The existing development, on the west side, is known as RukaVillage.
The two will be linked by a new ‘Village-2-Valley’ scenic gondola which is due to be completed this autumn. The gondola will traverse over the top of the fell between the two bases in around six minutes and feature a mid-station on top of the Saarua fell so skiers can use it to get up the slopes too.
RukaValley’s will ultimately contain 1700 new ski-in ski-out beds, 400 of them in the new RukaValley hotel that will be built in the first construction phase at a cost of approximately EUR 20 million. The total amount of investments in RukaValley is expected to exceed EUR 100 million in the next few years.
In addition to the scenic gondola, Ruka ski resort is building a new VillageExpress chairlift to the front slopes in Ruka Village. It will be a fast, 6-seater chairlift with pull down weather protection covers, similar to already existing VuosseliExpress chairlift in Ruka East.
