Cardrona Alpine Resort is celebrating turning 40 with an après party that will feature skiing, dancing, food, music and lots of 1980s costumes. 

General manager Bridget Legnavsky said Saturday’s event (October 17) will toast the four decade milestone, the success of a challenging 2020 season and all the people who have been part of Cardrona over the years. 

“Anyone who has been involved in Cardrona over the last 40 years, we would love for them to be there,” she said. 

Bridget described the theme for the event as “glam après 80s” and she hopes people will dust off their most colourful vintage outfits for the mountain party. 

While the event officially starts at 4pm, tickets include two hours of free skiing from 2pm, as well as dinner, a drink on arrival, drink discounts throughout the night, and music and entertainment. 

Cardrona general manager Bridget Legnavsky said the ‘glam après 80s’ theme will make for an incredible party. PHOTO: Supplied

“The music is going to be phenomenal,” Bridget said, adding that it includes live bands and a DJ set throughout the night and people should bring their dancing clothes as well as lots of warm layers.  

Bridget has been at Cardrona since 1993 when she arrived as a ski instructor straight out of university. Forty years since it was created, there’s a clear vision for what Cardrona will look like in another 40.

“I can see it crystal clear,” Bridget said. “It will be a 1,000 hectare ski resort... We’re going to hopefully have connections to the valley floor so people don’t have to drive. The top of the mountain will be New Zealand’s highest alpine village - the experience there will be all about bars, restaurants, and shopping. It will be an incredible place to be year round.”

Cardrona in 1985, shortly after the McDougalls chairlift was installed. PHOTO: Supplied

The Cardrona of today, and the vision for its future are a far cry from its humble beginnings, when founders Mary and John Lee were told they were crazy for wanting to create a family-friendly skifield in the mountains above the Cardrona Valley.

The field officially opened in 1980, with one 1200m rope tow bought from Mt Hutt. Two small Ministry of Works huts made a ticket office, and the field was open for just 16 days that first year. 

The first chairlift opened in 1982, but it didn’t guarantee punters. One day in September 1983 the field was open, the weather was fine, but no one turned up. Still, the Lees didn’t waver. 

When Cardrona became the first ski area in New Zealand to seek a full stock-exchange listing in 1985, the injection of capital allowed for further investment: two more chairlifts, a new groomer, a base building, a cafeteria, an accessory shop, and even flush toilets. 

Cardrona was eventually sold to the Veall family, and more recently purchased by Real Journeys, who have continued to invest in John and Mary’s vision, and expand on it.

Mary and John will attend the birthday party, Bridget said, and she hopes everyone else who has a connection to the skifield will also come along to celebrate. 

“It’s going to be an incredible party,” she said.

Find all the details and book in for Cardrona’s 40th birthday party on Saturday October 17 here.

The following day, Sunday October 18, marks the last day of the season for Cardrona “so people can come on up again and do some turns, and drink some more bubbles,” Bridget said.