Established in 1866, the New Orleans has been one of the only constants in the main street of the town, which has seen development and demolition.
Now the hotel is celebrating its birthday with a party, and the whole town is invited.
Managers Dean and Tracy Teddy said they were celebrating their one-year anniversary at the historic Arrowtown watering hole, and decided to make the occasion something the whole town could enjoy by holding a party for the locals .
Originally from Hamilton, the couple moved to Queenstown two years ago, enticed by the hospitality industry and the desire to live in the South Island.
A year ago they took over as managers at the New Orleans, which was bought from previous owners Warren and Joy Jones.
They were the longest-serving proprietors of the hotel, running it from 1988 till 2007.
Mary Johnston was the only other proprietor who came close to the Jones' tenure at the hotel.
She took it over in 1916 and sold it to William Milne in 1931.
Frequented by a core group of hungry and thirsty locals, the hotel has undergone several facelifts in the past 14 decades, most recently in 2004 when Warren and Joy Jones refitted the interior and created the sun deck, which faces the Arrow River.
Another upgrade, to a revamped kitchen and extended dining area, is planned to start next month.
But first, the Teddys will hold a birthday bash to end all others, beginning on Sunday and running until next Saturday.
"We were just going to celebrate our birthday, being an annual thing, but then we thought, let's make it a historic event.
"It's for the community - 142 years [of the hotel] in historic Arrowtown. Everyone's pretty excited, it's going to be great," Ms Teddy said.
The celebrations begin on Sunday with a Father's Day lunch or dinner before "the whole town" is invited for complimentary drinks and nibbles on Monday night between 5pm and 7pm.
This was to give something back to the community, she said.
On Wednesday there will be the 142nd Birthday Dinner with a set three-course menu for $39.95 and live music with "Stig, the Piano Man".
However, it was Friday night that would be the highlight, and the culmination of events, with the "Family Night Out", from 7pm.
Ms Teddy said the "Southern Man and his horse" would be there to entertain the children, before a fireworks display - the likes of which had never before been seen in Arrowtown - would light up the river.
"It's really for the community. The best position to be in will be out on the deck of the New Orleans, we want everyone out there with a drink in their hand, celebrating with us.
"It's the Arrowtown equivalent to Millbrook's New Year's Eve celebrations," Mr Teddy said.
The celebrations would finish with the "Big Rugby Day" on September 13 where live rugby games between Otago and Tasman, Southland and North Harbour and the All Blacks and Australia would be broadcast from 2.30pm.
For inquiries or more information visit www.goodbars.co.nz, email neworleans@goodbars.co.nz, phone 442 1745 or pop into the hotel and speak to Dean or Tracy.
Bookings for the 142nd Birthday Dinner are essential.
