The Arthurs Point Tavern shut its doors, probably for good, on Saturday.
Most of the locals gathered for a final pint were resigned to the closure and eventual demolition of the pub.
The speculation was that the renovation of Gorge Rd would send it straight through the building.
But if there are grounds for a heritage order on the building, Arthurs Point resident and lawyer Simon Stammers-Smith is keen to find them.
His fond memories of the tavern date back over 40 years since it was his university holiday job and then local tavern.
He said the skiers used to congregate there after a day on the mountain.
The car park would be overflowing.
His son, Will Stammers-Smith, remembered sitting in the corner with a bowl of chips and a raspberry and coke when he was young.
A family tradition had developed when he visited his home town.
"I usually meet Dad here for a drink before we head home," he said.
The pub had been a meeting spot for social groups and a pool team which had toured Otago playing in tournaments.
"It has been our meeting place and our watering hole for over 100 years," Laurie Schieb said.
"We don't really have anywhere else to go."
Craig Perry, a former owner of the pub, said he had ideas of doing a land swap with Queenstown Lakes District Council before he sold it.
That would have seen the pub move across the road allowing the road to be straightened.
However, after spending $50,000 on designs and some renovations he had decided to sell to the current owners.
The managers, Peter and Kirsty Harris, said they had no real plans for the future.
