John Lee pushed boundaries to the limit and moved mountains — literally — to create a sustainable future for his beloved Cardrona Valley. The Cardrona Ski Area was officially opened to the public in 1980 and the skifield’s first fully commercial year was 1982. Fourteen years after John and Mary’s purchase of Mt Cardrona, Cardrona Ski Area was profitable. When he was developing the Snow Farm access road, he took Sam with him to watch the blasting. John Lee was once asked what he would like to be remembered for.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 21, 2026 10:24 UTC