Sheep Farmer to Snow Farmer

In 1970 when the school bus and postal service were being axed from Cardrona Valley near Wanaka, visionary farmer John Lee bulldozed tracks on his farm and started the Cardrona Ski Field. People moved in, the services stayed. He and wife Mary went on to develop a Proving Ground for testing products in sub zero temperatures, a cross country ski field and a skate board park for snow boarders. They also have consent to build a gondola from the valley floor up to a proposed new ski field, Roaring Meg.