Okato Hotel

The Okato Hotel was built in 1875, with 16 rooms and 30-40 acres of land opposite the saleyards by Robert Gray who came to Okato in 1865 after serving with the 65^th Regiment. He owned the hotel until his death in 1909, when his son (William James Gray ) took over ownership, who had been running the hotel since 1895. William sold the hotel to Charles Edward Brookes in 1926. The hotel is located a few hundred metres from the Hangatahua River, which was nicknamed the Stony River by early mailman Thomas Heale. The business has also been known as the Stony River Hotel, Stony River House, the Okato Tavern and currently known as The Okato and has had many alterations.

The hotel has had many owners and lessees over the years and with some real characters including William Emeny who ran the hotel around 1912, who was known as “Slippery Bill”. Edgar Meredith donated the Meredith Cup in 1923 which was contested between the Okato and Rahotu rugby clubs before they merged into Coastal Rugby club in 1995. Richard Delany “Len” Dunne who was known as “Dad Dunne” because he encouraged the young men not to drink alcoholic beverages but to drink soft drinks instead. Renate and Heimo Staudinger believed a ghost lived in the hotel and was responsible for moving picture frames around the hotel and even took a photo of the paranormal activity.