Telgárt in central Slovakia (source: Ski Telgárt)
Ski Telgárt, a ski resort in central Slovakia already known for its unusual attractions – including skiing past the striking Chmarošský Viaduct and sipping coffee in a historic train carriage from the Austro-Hungarian era – has added another to its collection.
The latest addition is a vintage Czechoslovak snowcat, Lavína, dating back to 1988, reports My Novohrad website. Parked on the resort’s longest slope, Tresník, and repurposed as a mobile bar, it has quickly become one of the most photographed features on the mountain.
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“In the past, we’ve had various unconventional bars on the slope, offering skiers breathtaking views of Kráľova Hoľa, the viaducts, the Telgárt loop, and the Low and High Tatras,” says resort owner Andrej Šramko. “We started with a snow bar, but it melted every spring. Then we tried a garden hut, but it couldn’t withstand the snow and strong winds.”
Determined to find a more durable – and mobile – alternative, the resort settled on a restored Lavína snowcat. “We didn’t just want a modern snowmobile. We wanted something with history, a story to tell,” Šramko explains. The team fitted the snowcat with a stainless-steel ‘cabin’ reflecting the surrounding landscape, while artist Martin Majerčák painted it with a mountain-themed design.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive, Šramko says. “No one passes without stopping for a tea or at least a photo. It’s the most original bar in the mountains, far and wide.”
For those not skiing down Tresník, there’s no need to miss out. “When there isn’t enough snow or the weather turns, we move the snowcat to the base of the resort. It was parked there throughout Christmas. After all, it is mobile,” Šramko adds.
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