Building the Arlberg Lodge | Our Story

More than 60 years on the mountain

Arlberg Ski Club has been welcoming skiers and snowboarders to Mt Ruapehu for more than 60 years.

What began as an ambitious idea by a small group of young friends has grown into a thriving ski club built on community, volunteer spirit and a shared love of the mountain. Today, generations of members continue to enjoy affordable on-mountain accommodation, lifelong friendships and a place that many proudly call their second home.

Eunice Orange, Alex Weir, Nellie Schloffel, Dolph Schloffel, Raewyn McDonald, Brian McDonald, Diane Holloway, Laurie Holloway, Wally Loveday

It all started with an idea

In the early 1960s, a group of Rover Scouts regularly travelled to Whakapapa for ski trips. During a return trip from the World Rover Moot in Melbourne, the idea of building their own ski club on the mountain was born.

A committee was formed and work began to find a suitable site, attract members and raise enough money to turn the dream into reality.

Built by volunteers

Like the club today, Arlberg was built through the dedication of volunteers.

Members raised funds, completed the groundwork, built the foundations and worked alongside Lockwood to construct the lodge. Friends, local contractors and neighbouring ski clubs all lent a hand when it was needed.

That same spirit continues today through work parties, committee members and volunteers who help keep the lodge running for future generations.

A club for generations

Many members first visited Arlberg as children and now return with families of their own.

While the lodge has evolved over the years, one thing has remained unchanged — the sense of community that has made Arlberg such a special place since the 1960s.

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.

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.

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.

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 mountain.