Building the Lodge
A Vision Takes Shape
Every great story starts with an idea.
In the early 1960s, a group of young Rover Scouts regularly travelled to Whakapapa for ski trips, staying in the Owhango Scout Den. During the journey home from the World Rover Moot in Melbourne, the conversation turned to a bold idea – why not build their own ski club on the mountain?
That conversation would eventually become Arlberg Ski Club.
Choosing the Perfect Location
The National Parks Board offered two possible sites for the new lodge. One was higher on the mountain and considered better for keen skiers, but the founders chose a lower site because of its easier access.
It proved to be a wise decision. More than 60 years later, members still enjoy the convenience of Arlberg's location beside Carpark B and just a short walk from the ski fields.
Raising the money
Building a ski lodge wasn't cheap.
To raise funds, advertisements were placed in Auckland's Saturday sports newspaper, inviting people to join the club. New members contributed £10 to join, while others purchased £20 debentures to help finance the project.
A major breakthrough came when a generous grant from the Golden Kiwi helped make construction possible.
Building Begins
Construction officially began in 1964.
Members spent weekend after weekend digging foundations by hand using picks, crowbars and shovels. When they discovered an underground power cable crossed the site, they simply rotated the entire building 90 degrees, giving the lodge the orientation it still has today.
The work wasn't easy. Large rocks had to be blasted, foundations excavated and concrete poured in freezing temperatures. When one batch failed to set because of the cold, it was dug out, mixed again with hot water and poured a second time.
(Gallery of foundations and excavation)
A community effort
The lodge was built almost entirely by volunteers.
Members stayed at Taupō Ski Club during construction and spent twelve consecutive weekends working on the project. Friends, neighbouring ski clubs, local contractors and road crews all pitched in when extra hands or machinery were needed.
Once Lockwood erected the building, members completed much of the fit-out themselves, building bunks, painting walls and sourcing furniture and appliances through personal contacts.
(Gallery of construction photos)
Opening Weekend
After years of planning and months of hard work, the lodge officially opened on 24–25 July 1965.
The opening attracted a standing-room-only crowd of members and invited guests. As everyone gathered in the new lounge, there was one lingering thought...
"We all had our fingers crossed that the floor would hold up and we would not end up in the water tanks below."
Fortunately, it did.
(Gallery of opening weekend)
A Legacy That Continues Today
More than six decades later, Arlberg continues to thrive because of the same volunteer spirit that built it.
Every work party, committee member and volunteer helps preserve the legacy created by those original founders. While the lodge has grown and evolved over the years, the values remain the same – community, friendship and a shared passion for the mounta
Historic Gallery
Take a look back through photographs from Arlberg’s early years, including the construction of the lodge, opening weekend and life on the mountain.