From the former Škoda factory in Vrchlabí, there will be a water park, a hotel, and apartments

VRCHLABÍ (Trutnov Region) - The Hedeby company plans to convert the former factory of the Škoda Auto car manufacturer in the thirteen-thousand-strong town of Vrchlabí in the Trutnov Region into a water park, shopping center, hotel, restaurants, and apartments. They aim to start construction this year at a cost of over 200 million crowns and complete it within three years, as stated by the Deputy Mayor of Vrchlabí, Josef Pištora.
The former factory halls next to the ice rink were purchased by the municipality a few years ago from the car manufacturer for 14 million crowns. "The city did not have money for the reconstruction, so we were looking for a partner. We will sell the complex to Hedeby for the price we paid for it," said Pištora. The company will guarantee the project to the city with a bank guarantee of 20 million crowns, which will be forfeited to the city in the event of project failure.
The complex is expected to feature a water area of over 600 square meters, at least one hundred apartment units, and over 200 parking spaces in multi-storey garages. "Private investors will provide the funding for the project," said the project's creator and the managing director of Hedeby, Milan Jirouš.
According to Pištora, the project with Hedeby will fulfill the city's roughly 30-year-long effort to construct an indoor water area. The water park and other attractions are also expected to attract foreign tourists to the town in the foothills of the Krkonoš Mountains. Currently, a similar attraction only exists in Špindlerův Mlýn in the Krkonoš Mountains.
Hedeby plans to utilize the main hall and chimney from the existing factory complex. The factory hall will house a pool with water attractions. The chimney will be transformed into a lighthouse, with a hotel located in its lower section. The apartments that will be built in several new buildings will be sold to private owners by the investor.