A new project in Canton Graubünden seeks to breathe new life into the long-closed San Bernadino ski region in Switzerland. Stefano Artioli, a Swiss entrepreneur, has promised to invest up to 300 million francs into the area in order to bring the ski resort back to life. Here’s what we know so far.

Mesocco ski resort to open for first time in 11 years

According to 20 Minuten, a massive construction project will soon kick off in the town of Mesocco in the San Bernadino Pass. Stefano Artioli, an entrepreneur from Ticino, confirmed that he has purchased all the ski resort facilities in the village, alongside buying up nearly all the hotels and a 14,5 square kilometre plot of land in the area, on which he plans to build a brand new hotel and wellness spa.

Since 2012, the ski lifts and t-bars of Messoco have been silent, after the last hotels shut up shop. Despite its arguably ideal positioning in the San Bernadino Pass - one of the main motorways connecting Swiss cities and Italy - warm weather and falling tourist numbers meant the once vibrant ski resort soon fell into a state of disrepair, with most of the lifts abandoned and damaged.

Artioli wants to change that, having promised up to 300 million francs worth of investment to get the resort up and running again. This help was approved by locals on June 18, with all projects now given the go-ahead.

Ski resort in Graubünden already named the little Andermatt

Already, members of the Swiss media are calling the town in Graubünden the “little Andermatt” - a formerly deserted ski station that was revived when Egyptian billionaire Samih Sawiris invested 1 billion francs into the resort in 2005. Today, the area in Uri is one of the best ski resorts in the country. It is hoped that the same trick can be used in Mesocco.

For his part, Artioli promised that all ski slopes and a number of hotels will be open to the public by this Christmas, creating 450 jobs for locals in the area. If all goes well, the magnate predicts that all facilities - including the brand new hotel and spa - will be open in 2025.