Switzerland’s Säntispark Celebrates 40th Anniversary
Since 1986, the mixed-use center in Abtwil near St. Gallen, Switzerland, has combined swimming, wellness, sports, recreation, and shopping under one roof.
© Photos: Courtesy of Migros Ostschweiz
(eap) On 1 November, Säntispark in Abtwil near St. Gallen, Switzerland, will celebrate its 40th anniversary. By combining a shopping and leisure centre, Genossenschaft Migros St. Gallen introduced a concept in 1986 that was innovative for its time. Today, around one million guests visit the mixed-use centre’s leisure facilities each year, which include a pool and sauna complex alongside numerous sports and play activities.
Migros (now Genossenschaft Migros Ostschweiz) originally planned a dedicated shopping centre at the site. Although planning permission had already been granted, the cooperative abandoned these plans and instead responded to the trend towards more leisure offerings. Meanwhile, general contractor Hauser Rutishauser Suter AG (HRS) and architectural firm Rausch Ladner Clerici (RLC) were developing a leisure centre in St. Margrethen. The three partners combined their plans and presented the Säntispark project in Abtwil in 1983. Following two and a half years of construction, the approx. 65,000-square-metre complex opened with a pool complex, a sports and games hall, restaurants, 15 specialist shops and a large Migros store. A striking architectural feature is its 13,000-square-metre undulating roof. At the time, it was Switzerland’s largest timber roof, and it still connects all three areas of the complex today. In 1987, the four-star Hotel Säntispark added overnight accommodation to the offering. It was renovated and expanded over the years before being sold to Fortimo Group AG in 2022. Following refurbishment and rebranding, it reopened in 2025 as Revier Hotel Säntispark.
The wave pool, saltwater pool, squash courts and badminton courts have been part of the offering since the opening. Säntispark has also continued to expand its leisure facilities over the decades. A whitewater canyon and the “Pfahlbausauna” were added in 2008. Another milestone followed in 2016 with the opening of the slide complex (we reported in EAP 1/2017). The eight slides added at the time recorded more than one million rides within their first six months.
“Thanks to our attractive water slides, our catchment area has expanded significantly,” reports Michael Selb, Head of Säntispark Freizeit. Today, visitors can discover a total of 15 different water slides at Säntispark. According to the operator, this is the largest selection of slides at any water park in Switzerland. The expansion and modernization work completed in 2024 (cf. EAP 6/2024) included additional slides from wiegand.waterrides, a VR slide experience realized in collaboration with Ballast VR and upgrades to the outdoor pool, sauna facilities and food and beverage offering.
The shopping area has also changed: over the years, the garden centre, pet shop and furniture department have made way for other offerings. The Migros supermarket remains a central feature. It underwent extensive modernization in 2025 and records around 700,000 purchases annually.
Säntispark is celebrating its anniversary this month with various activities. The celebrations are set to culminate in events from 22 to 24 October 2026, featuring live music and family activities in the shopping centre. ■
