Ruka 70+30=100 years of snowy joy

Ruka turned 70 and Ruka Park 30 – and we celebrated in style!

During the winter season 2024–2025, we opened the renewed Ruka Park, partied at festivals, launched a special anniversary beer and Ruka clothing collection, and even created a Ruka themed Christmas window display for department store Stockmann in Helsinki. And of course, we welcomed all 10-year-olds to ski for free the entire winter season! We also released Decades, a documentary film celebrating 30 years of Ruka Park.

Most importantly, we enjoyed 213 days of skiing, snow, and unforgettable moments together on the slopes.

Take a deepdive into the history of Ruka Park and watch the 45-min documentary "Decades – Thirty Years of Ruka Park":

Watch Decades now

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Accommodation

The Story of Ruka Begins in 1954

Ruka's history officially dates back to 1954, when the first slope, now known as the front slope, was cleared. The journey from building the first lift to the present day has included new slope areas, the evolution of lifts, the rise of Ruka Village in place of the former parking lot, restaurants, Ski-Inn hotels and apartments, a gondola, and numerous other major and minor projects. Today, Ruka offers diverse experiences year-round, and fortunately, the happy story shows no signs of ending.

Ensimmäisellä rinteellä oli korkeuseroa 150 m ja pituutta 530 metriä

Hiking up and skiing down

As early as the 1940s, Ruka was home to downhill skiing: slopes were accessed by tamping down the snow, and skiing was done through clearings in the forest. A slope cleared by volunteer efforts opened in early winter of 1955, and Ruka's first ski lift, 300 meters long, was completed in 1957.
Ski Bistro in Ruka during the 90's (old slide)

The neon-colored decades

Who remembers the spring après-ski on the Ski Bistro terrace or Rukaklubi? Ruka's development took major strides before the 90s recession halted investments. With the new MasterPlan, the 2000s marked a new era for Ruka in the new millennium.
BASE Eat & Heat

New additions for the upcoming year

During anniversary year, the fell will once again feature new attractions, including the long-awaited sauna restaurant BASE Eat & Heat at the top of Saarua, a Slopestyle course meeting international competition and World Cup standards after its renovation, a special anniversary Ruka beer, and Finland's first alpine coaster.
Old photo of Ruka Ski Resort