Cardrona Alpine Resort’s base complex is getting an upgrade: plans have been approved for a 619m2 building with retail services on the ground floor and food and beverage facilities upstairs.

The existing retail and administration building will be demolished to make way for the new one, named ‘Project Arcadia’.

Project Arcadia is one of a number of projects the ski field is undertaking to better equip it for the increase in users expected from ski area expansion.

Plans for ‘Project Arcadia’, a new retail, food and beverage building, have been approved.

Cardrona Alpine Resort is developing a new chairlift and ski runs in the Soho Basin which, together with the Willows Basin, make up the Soho Ski Area.

Earmarked to open for winter 2025, the new six-seater chairlift will service around 150ha of terrain. 

Project Arcadia and other projects will “support this new development and the additional visitors it may bring to the mountain”, application documents said.

The old retail and administration building, pictured, will be demolished to make way for Project Arcadia

A separate project billed to include a high speed electric passenger lift system linking the Cardrona Valley to Cardrona Alpine Resort and Soho Ski Area was also announced earlier this month.

An initiative of Blackmans Creek Holdings Limited, it was selected as one of the government’s fast-track approval projects, and includes on-mountain visitor accommodation, guest facilities, and workers' accommodation.

Cardrona Alpine Resort general manager Laura Hedley said the project was being designed and developed by a third party.

“With the planned opening of Soho Basin to skiers in 2025, making Cardrona New Zealand’s largest ski area, we welcome an alternative transport option to the mountain and look forward to seeing how the process progresses.”

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) approved the company’s resource consent application for Project Arcadia earlier this month.

PHOTOS: Cardrona/ Supplied