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The famous 162-year-old Cardrona pub is set to go up for sale.
Since 2013, the historic establishment has been owned by Cade Thornton and his silent partner, James Jenneson.
Built in 1863, the pub has been immortalised in art, printed on merch, and the centre of advertising campaigns.
Thornton and Jenneson were fresh-faced lads from the city when they decided to take a punt on the establishment.
Thornton was 29 when they made the move. By the time the ink dried, he'd hit 30.
Cardrona pub co-owner Cade Thornton. (Source: Seven Sharp)
He recalled his mum seeing it listed on Trade Me, and they thought "we can't afford that", he told Seven Sharp.
After taking a drive to look at the hotel, Thornton said "one thing lead to another" and by February 1, 2013, they were the new owners.
His wife, Alexsis Thornton, was in her mid 20s when she too moved from Christchurch to Cardrona.
"It was a huge change and took probably a good couple of years, I think, to find my feet here."
Cade Thornton with Seven Sharp reporter Jendy Harper outside the Cardrona pub. (Source: Seven Sharp)
Cade Thornton called it a "big grunt of a business that requires a huge amount of mental capacity and time and energy".
He said while he loves the place and "could be here forever", there were a few reasons why he's ready to move on.
"My kids... [I] don't spend a lot of time with them," he said. "My health's had its ups and downs and I just think it's the stress."
He added: "But I just choose to run it like that so they might run it differently."
Customers dine at the Cardrona pub. (Source: Seven Sharp)
When the hotel was first built, it would have been gold miners reaching out for warmth at the establishment.
But now, it's the après-ski crowd, the Queenstown to Wānaka commuters, and the occasional celebrity.
Although Thornton is hands-on with the business, the history of the building is not lost on him.
He showed Seven Sharp the money on the building's ceiling, displaying "all different currencies" – some of which had been there "a really long time".
There's also an old mine shaft.
The proprietors could be sitting on a gold mine too – the pub has a sale price of $20 million.
Willy Scurr has seen five publicans come and go – and there's plenty of advice for number six: "Look after the locals."
He also suggested the new owner keep their peace with the ghost of Jimi Paterson, who is rumoured to make the wooden skis swing.
"We're not the only people to see it. There's other people that's seen it – and it's not the drink."
Meanwhile, Thornton said he thinks the new owner has to "love the pub".
"They can't just see it as a pure business transaction because it will be what they make of it."
