'When I came here [in 1981] I was told pretty bluntly that I wouldn't be accepted as a local because I was a Yank and they didn't want a foreigner in Ranfurly."
Never one to back down from a fight, he was determined to win the locals over.
Thirty years later, and still behind the bar in the town's Art Deco hotel, Mr Weyer (69) has proved he is there to stay and hopes he has made the grade.
"I'm not sure if I qualify yet as a local, but maybe I'm getting a bit closer ..," he jokes.
The date of his 30-year anniversary at the hotel was December 5 last year but he suffered a massive heart attack a couple of days before, was "cheated" of the celebration, and ended up having open heart surgery.
"Probably I should've slowed down sooner, but I think I got the message from that, so the pub is on the market now."
As one of the longest-serving country publicans in Otago, Mr Weyer has seen big changes in the industry over the years.
The advent of family bar licences was one major change.
Another was the increased competition when supermarkets, dairies and cafes were able to sell alcohol.
"Once we were the only place that was able to sell wine and beer, but now it's completely opened up," he said.
"There's a lot more emphasis now on food in the hotel, so we've had to perfect the food - the pie-in-the-bar days have well and truly gone."
He started out as the hotel manager and later bought the lease.
During the economic decline of the 1990s, times were particularly tough for the Maniototo and the community was looking for ways to attract people to the district.
During a public meeting, one of the suggestions put forward was to focus on Ranfurly's Art Deco buildings and promote the town as a rural Art Deco centre.
Mr Weyer was on the committee formed to develop the idea and Ranfurly's Art Deco Festival grew out of that.
"The Art Deco idea started to work, and generated the town valuable publicity.
"The festival now is a very big weekend for the district and the hotel and this building, of course, is an Art Deco one, built in 1934."
The creation of the Otago Central Rail Trail 12 years ago, following the rail corridor, was the other "godsend" for Ranfurly, he said.
"It's been a a big boost for us.
"Without it, and the Art Deco idea, Ranfurly would be gone," he said.
"I can remember the first meeting about the trail and some of the people were saying, 'We don't want loopies biking around here'.
"Now look at all the businesses that have sprung up around the trail and the visitors it brings in."
Although he was initially branded an outsider, Mr Weyer has immersed himself in the community, serving on a host of organisations, including the Maniototo Promotions Group, the town swimming club and business committee and the Balmoral Curling Club.
The hotel is one of the biggest employers in the town, providing work for 17 employees, some full-time and some part-time.
"But it's time now to sell up and walk away from the hotel.
"I've really enjoyed it over the years but I think I've done my bit."
He has few plans yet for his retirement but says "a bit more travelling" is on the agenda.
