Opens on Whit Saturday: the outdoor swimming area in Wellenberg. © Dominik Bartl
After the closure in autumn 2022, the Wellenberg is now opening its doors again. However, only those for outdoor use. The open-air swimming pool starts on Whit Saturday.
Oberammergau – Admittedly, the outdoor pool in the Wellenberg outdoor pool is not yet too inviting. The water temperature is just 14 degrees. "It's not warm," admitted Oberammergau's mayor Andreas Rödl (CSU). But the head of the town hall has also studied the weather forecast for Pentecost. The outlook: sunny, around 20 degrees.
This aroused optimism among the leaders of the municipality. So why not open the outdoor pool at Pentecost despite the cold water temperatures so far, the administration thought. The municipal council unanimously approved the proposal at its meeting. This Saturday, the Wellenberg will start its open-air swimming pool operation - about eight months after the closure of the building with its inner workings.
No kiosk staff yet
"The pool has been prepared for the outdoor pool season," explained Christian Ostler, manager of the town hall. Although it turned out to be a challenge to find staff. "That was very difficult," Rödl emphasized. Supervisors are adequately employed. However, there is a lack of a marginally employed person at the cash register. "We don't have anyone for the kiosk either," said the head of the town hall. In addition, there is a lack of infrastructure in the kiosk area to start operations. "We will try to provide ice cream, drinks and so on by means of vending machines."
In principle, there was consensus in the municipal council to open now. Especially since all the surrounding outdoor pools are also planning to start the summer season at Pentecost. Ludwig Utschneider (PWG) wondered why the town hall administration involved the committee in the decision to open up. "You as a church have a responsibility, you just have to act." "I thought the new concept for the wave crest would be that we open when it's warm enough so that we don't have to heat."
Next construction site is imminent
In fact, it is planned to heat the sports pool exclusively with the solar system. The technical system of the bath is shut down. Heating with oil and gas would theoretically be possible, but it would be too much effort and – as Rödl said – neither contemporary nor energetically sustainable. However, the mayor was confident that the water would warm up quickly. Thanks to the solar system. "And if it's 20 degrees throughout the next few days, we'll definitely quickly get to a water temperature of 18 degrees."
The open-air swimming pool operation in Wellenberg is therefore starting as planned. But the plant remains a "permanent construction site" for the municipality, Rödl clarified. After the season, the technician will retire. A successor must be found for the coming year. "Without technicians, we can't keep operations going," emphasizes the head of the town hall. "That's going to be the next hurdle."
In addition, a decision has yet to be made as to how the site will continue on the whole. The municipality is in the final stages of negotiations with investors. "It's good that we have more than one interested party," Rödl emphasizes when asked by Tagblatt, but also makes it clear that nothing is done yet. "At the end of the negotiations," he says, "the hot topics are still on the table."