Aerial view of Solmar Beach, Cabo San Lucas Bay, Playa el Médano to Punta Ballena taken September 2005 from a powered glider from Cabo Sky Tours by Joseph A. Tyson
Finisterra Resort, Playa Grande Resort, Solmar Suites, Hotel Solmar are situated on Solmar Beach on the Pacific Ocean. The entrance to the new tunnel for Capella Pedregal can be seen on the lower left. This view shows the entrance to the marina, Cabo San Lucas Bay, and Playa el Médano (Medano Beach) to Punta Ballena in the distance on the upper right.
PICTURE OF THE DAY submitted to Baja Pony Express by
Bill and Kay Barbour with this information:
“Here is a picture of Cabo when the only hotel on the beach was the Hacienda Hotel, gone now. You can see that the Marina was not yet dug. The picture was among my parents effects and is dated on the back “1966”. The large sailing vessel in the harbor is the “Goodwill”, wrecked years later on the rocks near Ensenada with the loss of all hands on board, while returning to Newport Beach, CA.
Cabo San Lucas Harbor. Baja Pony Express: PICTURE OF THE DAY sent in by Bill and Kay Barbour – dated on reverse 1966. The tuna cannery is on the right side of the photo. On the hill near the beach is the Hotel Hacienda Beach Resort (right, center of photo).
Reference photo: The Schooner Goodwill
Image modified to correct horizon line. Photo from website https://davearcher.com/goodwill.html The date of 1965 in the heading is not relevant to this image.
CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico — Asked recently to name his favorite restaurant in town, a crewman aboard one of the local sportfishing cruisers paused only briefly before responding, with a straight face, “KFC.”
Apparently, the Colonel’s place is quite popular among locals. So are McDonald’s, Dairy Queen and Domino’s Pizza, to name a few fairly recent arrivals.
They’re further examples of the so-called “Americanization” of this once quiet and dusty fishing village; the result of progress, which doesn’t sit well with everyone and in fact has some longing for the good old days.
La Noria Restaurant at Hotel Hacienda Beach Resort. Photo taken June 2004 by Joseph A. Tyson.
As for Mark Parr, he’ll stick with La Noria, the Mexican restaurant at Hotel Hacienda Beach Resort, which the Parr family happens to own. The food is of much higher quality (the beef is shipped in from the United States); the convenience is unsurpassed.
Meet Carlos Ungson, one of Baja’s true pioneers. Many people claim to be famous but not Carlos… however, his life story tells otherwise.
Benjamin Ungson (Carlos’ father) was just 16 years old in 1895 when he travelled across the Pacific Ocean from China to Mexico, a whole new world to him. After living in many areas of Mexico, he finally settled in Mexicali where in 1935, Carlos was born. Benjamin insisted that all his children learn to speak Spanish and their native Chinese dialect as well as English.
When he was nine, Carlos, a brother and one of his sisters were sent to boarding school in Los Angeles where Carlos thrived during his formative years. He earned an Engineer’s degree from the University of Southern California and served his first job with IWATA, an international engineering firm. In 1960, architect Alberto Triboletti received a contract to build a new hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico which lead to the question …”where?” Carlos had a feeling that his future would change dramatically.
Carlos Ungson c.1965
The developer, Bud Parr painted a fabulous picture with tales of pristine beaches, exceptional sport fishing, spectacular scenery, and unbeatable weather! The Hotel Cabo San Lucas rose at El Tule on the dirt road between San Jose Del Cabo and the small fishing village of Cabo San Lucas.
“As I flew over the site for the first time, it was pointed out to me where the hotel would be built and I remember thinking…’where am I going and what have I gotten myself into’! It turned out to be the greatest adventure that has ever happened to me or that could happen to anyone…to experience what I did as a 25-year old!”
Building materials took weeks to arrive by boat so Carlos and his team made equipment to trim lumber, make tiles and mix cement. They also built electrical stations, water reservoirs and sewage plants… remember this was 1960 with no highway or easy access by plane.
The Hotel Cabo San Lucas soon became a world-famous destination, known as a quick get-away for Hollywood’s “Rich & Famous”. People lucky enough to discover this desert oasis found themselves enjoying a cocktail with John Wayne and Frank Sinatra, teeing off with Bob Hope and marlin fishing with Ernest Hemingway.
Carlos Ungson and Bud Parr – estimated photo date: 1965-75
In 1961 when construction was finished, Carlos became General Manager of the hotel until 1976 when he moved on to projects such as the Palmilla Hotel, the Twin Dolphin Hotel and the Hacienda in Cabo. He invested wisely in real estate, much of which he still owns today, including the beautiful Casa Bella Boutique Hotel located in Cabo San Lucas Centro. It remains a family business with his lovely wife Maria Elena and his daughter Barbara there every day.
Carlos’ contributions have benefited Los Cabos for decades and his visionary commitment to the future will continue to do so for generations to come. Even now in his golden years, Carlos has three major projects on the go: Town Center / Riverwalk, Cabo San Lucas: located between Wal-Mart and the bullring arroyo sit 30 hectares (75 acres) which for the past 10 years have caused people to ask…”where do those two paved roads go, what will be built there?”. The answers will soon be revealed when construction of the Town Center / Riverwalk of Cabo San Lucas is started. It will be home to businesses, stores, restaurants, shops, boutique & luxury hotels, condominiums, medical facilities…everything a bustling community needs including a winding riverwalk just like in San Antonio. Of course, proximity to the beach and wonderful vistas are free.
The Town Center / Riverwalk will combine local culture with international flair. Investment opportunities are available as all permits are in place and financing is being finalized.
Satellite City, San Jose Del Cabo: located near the international airport are 300 hectares (750 acres) designated for “Cuidad Satellite, Los Cabos”, utilizing a new design of intermediate urbanization with considerations to the environmental, social, and educational interactions of residents. Schools, hospitals, police & fire stations, commercial & retail locales, residential homes, public facilities and green space make Satellite City one of the most anticipated developments to be brought to Baja.
Marina on the Pacific, Los Cerritos: located just south of Todos Santos, the property is 1100 hectares (2500+ acres) with 2 km of beachfront then across Highway 19 for 7 km up the side of the Sierra Laguna foothills. The oceanfront section will have a 200-slip marina, a signature-designed golf course, and private residences. The land sites across the highway will be home to 1 acre estate homes with panoramic vistas. The close proximity to both Cabo San Lucas and La Paz makes a 30-minute drive easy and quick.
Information about all three projects can be found at www.iicg.com
“Once in our lifetime, we are offered a wonderful opportunity which will change our lives forever. I was very fortunate and took mine 50 years ago. It can happen to anyone…we don’t do things for ourselves but for others. “
It has been my extreme privilege to know Carlos and his family for 14 years and I look forward to his on-going ventures in keeping Baja the magical place that we enjoy!
By: Brian Blackburn • e-mail: ask@caboguy.com
Article previously published in Ventanna Magazine 2008
https://www.ventanamagazine.com/
Finisterra Resort, Playa Grande Resort, Solmar Suites, Hotel Solmar are situated on Solmar Beach on the Pacific Ocean. The entrance to the new tunnel for Capella Pedregal can be seen on the lower left. This view shows the entrance to the marina, Cabo San Lucas Bay, and Playa el Médano (Medano Beach) to Punta Ballena in the distance on the upper right.
