In 1622, Archduke Leopold V had the schwaighof converted into a hunting lodge and, in 1624, a road was built from Sellrain.
The property passed via his granddaughter, Hedwig to the counts of Stolberg-Stolberg, who turned it into a winter sports hotel.
Works and Farming Ministry (Arbeits- und Ackerbauministerium) the place was opened up as a ski resort in 1909.
After the Second World War, Kühtai grew rapidly into a hotel village and is today a popular hiking and skiing area.
At the end of December 2014, the women's 2014/15 Alpine Ski World Cup took place here for the first time (as a replacement for the cancelled competition in Semmering).