Sandy Waters, who bought the Snowy Lodge building five years ago and turned it into accommodation, said earlier she had not bought a business at the time, she'd bought a run-down building.
"It has been hard work refurbishing the building."
And Snowy Waters Lodge was "right smack in the middle of the North Island", she said.
"Which makes it accessible for groups at opposite ends of the island looking for somewhere convenient to get together."
Snowy Waters Lodge, on Ward St, is family-friendly and the ideal place for large family groups, reunions, work dos and club functions, she said.
Her plans for the self-catering lodge that sleeps 40 and the four-bedroom self-contained villa she described as being niche accommodation offering a unique experience like treasure hunts and corporate team building.
As well, there's a kids' playground, kids' television room, PlayStation Sing Star karaoke, spa pools, petanque, giant Connect-4and an outdoor area with a barbecue. In the winter there's abundant warmth throughout the lodge, when the old radiators are stoked into life, she said.
The big job initially was sanding the native timber floors throughout.
"But the result has been well worth the effort," Sandy said.
She said she knows the hospitality industry from the inside.
"I know where the gaps are''.
Busloads of young tourists are coming into Raetihi daily and when they arrive at Snowy Lodge you can see the pleasure on their faces.
"I love this place. It is so peaceful and so green," a young German girl said.
Geoff Anderson said Snowy Waters was a spectacular place to have in Raetihi.
With the summer season barrelling ahead again for the second time it means the tourists are often staying on instead of just booking in for just a couple of nights.
"There's so much for them to do here."
The increase in summer tourist numbers in the Waimarino had surprised Ruapehu Mayor Don Cameron.
"Tourist numbers were now booming in summer.''
While many come for fantastic new tourism products such as the Forgotten World Adventures self-driven rail carts on the old Ohura-Stratford rail line, or to canoe the Whanganui River, others are coming to walk part of the renowned 3000km Te Araroa Trail which runs the length of New Zealand from Cape Reinga to Bluff, he said.
The Te Araroa Trail has been described by National Geographic as "one of the best long walks on the planet".
"And just last year CNN listed Te Araroa as one of the world's top 10 long trails, along with the 3500km Appalachian Trail and the 6200km Sentiero in Italy."
Ruapehu District councillor Graeme Cosford, a life-long tramper, said he could not recall such an influx of visitors coming through the Waimarino, Ruapehu and Taumarunui.
Tourists at the Snowy Lodge were opting to stay on he said to book in and do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, with some then returning to canoe the Whanganui River as well.
"Our towns in the Waimarino are flourishing in the summer season. It is fantastic to see this marvellous growth happening in Raetihi. It helps of course that we have very good accommodation available like The Snowy Lodge. It is invaluable.
