At the end of the nineteenth century the caves were only known to hunters and poachers. Not until 1879 did Anton Posselt, a natural scientist from Salzburg, push 200 metres into the darkness of the caves and officially „discover“ the Eisriesenwelt. One year later he published a detailed report of his discovery in a mountaineering magazine, but the caves then slipped back into obscurity.

Alexander von Mörk, pioneer of cave exploration in the Salzburg area, recognised the significance of Posselt’s report. His expeditions were followed by various other discoverers in the 1920’s and the increasing popularity of this wonder of nature soon attracted the first tourists. In 1920 the old cabin - Forscherhütte ( discoverer’s refuge ) - was built and the first primitive climbing routes established up to the cave and onwards into the interior.

A year later the increase in the number of visitors led to the construction of a proper path from Werfen and Tenneck. By 1924 the ice-covered sections of the caves were all accessible on foot, and in 1925 a larger cabin was built next to the original Forscher Hütte. This house was named after Friedrich Oedl in recognition of his achievements and all his hard work connected with the Eisriesenwelt. For 25 years the only way to reach the caves was on foot. From 1953 it was possible to drive up the Eisriesenweltstraße, albeit unsurfaced and single-lane! In 1955 the cable-car provided an alternative to the steepest part of the climb (1084 m - 1586 m), reducing the time taken from one and a half hours to a matter of minutes.

The Eisriesenwelt is actually owned by the National Austrian Forestry Commission. The Salzburg Association of Cave Exploration took out a lease and in 1928 this was formalised into a contract with the newly formed Eisriesenwelt company. The Forestry Commisssion receives a significant percentage of all entrance fees paid.