Mayrhofen first appears in historical writings in the year 1200, as documented in tax archives. Until the 19th century, Mayrhofen belonged to Pramberg, after which it was integrated into the Tyrol region. The emerging tourism in the year 1879, with the opening of the Berliner Hütte hotel, mainly attracted hikers, which was a popular activity at the time and made Mayrhofen a suitable location.

In 1953, construction began on the Penkenbahn, designed to assist people in getting around during the summer period. At that time, winter sports were still developing, so two cabins were initially sufficient. This number remained constant until 1970, when four gondolas and an intermediate station were introduced, resulting in a doubling of capacity. The current structure of the Penkenbahn, as we know it today, dates from 1995, with 48 gondolas available. In 2015, the Penkenbahn was further expanded, increasing the number of gondolas and significantly shortening waiting times. Thanks to this cable car, you are less than ten minutes from the center of Mayrhofen in the middle of the Zillertal 3000 ski area.