BajaNomad

Discover Baja Article on Serenidad Baja Legend

LancairDriver - 1-25-2019 at 12:41 PM

Nice article on Don Johnson and his Serenidad Hotel

http://www.discoverbaja.com/2019/01/10/a-mexican-love-story-...

elgatoloco - 1-25-2019 at 01:03 PM

That is a great story. We had many great times there over the years. It was an oasis for us when we were on a long camping trip. We would always stop in for one night to get cleaned up and let someone else cook and end up staying 2 or 3. Hospitality was as welcoming as the margaritas and the pool.

David K - 1-25-2019 at 01:43 PM

Thank you for sharing.


Pacifico - 1-25-2019 at 03:28 PM

This was the first place my dad took me in Baja when I was 16! We flew in with a friend and fished for a few days. We headed up to Punta Chivato and that is where my love of Baja began! I returned to PC many times and camped back before there were any houses. It was so epic there!

Do they still do the Saturday night pig roast at Serinidad?

chuckie - 1-25-2019 at 04:14 PM

My first "home" in Baja was a tent in what is now the parking lot. My wife and I and 2 kids camped against the wall and Don put a garden hose over the wall for deluxe accomodations...Over the next 40 years we traded insults and became good friends...He and people like Saul Davis, Jorge Yee and Enrique Aguilar....MADE Mulege...LOVE Em ALL

LancairDriver - 1-25-2019 at 06:05 PM

I have made many trips into the Serenidad for years and enjoyed the Saturday nite pig roast and the Mariachi’s and the many friends made there. Sadly the traffic in there has tapered off a lot in the past few years and the pig roast and the Mariachi’s are only brought out on special occasions. A lot of pilots bound for destinations farther south would stop in for a quick lunch and after one or two of the famous margaritas never left. No worry’s, they were just in time and primed for the pig roast and fun festivities. Like a lot of others, I miss the old Baja days.

David K - 1-25-2019 at 06:18 PM

I have a tiny bit to share about Don Johnson, as I remember my dad telling the story...

We first came to Mulegé by Jeep, in 1966 and in chatting with Don Johnson my dad learned that he used to live on the same street in L.A. my parents lived at (before I was born).

The Serenidad was opened in 1961 and Don Johnson (who was the boat manager there) bought it (with partners) in 1968.

The pig roasts date back to the 1970s.

Don Johnson was the U.S. counselor in Mulegé at one time.

watizname - 1-26-2019 at 08:58 AM

The Serenidad was real Baja. I still remember the first time I walked into the courtyard after a long dusty day on the road and being amazed at the beauty in such an out of the way place. Glad for the memories

HeyMulegeScott - 1-31-2019 at 01:04 PM

We went last Saturday for the pig roast. No pig roast but they did have some pretty bad pork ribs. My wife's Mexican plate was good. Enjoyed a couple of good margaritas by the fireplace. Great old school place.

thebajarunner - 1-31-2019 at 06:35 PM

Flew in there in 1980. Had just bought a T210 which was seriously above my skill set, so hired a young instructor to sit right seat and give me the ultimate check ride.
An old coot from our town was living there for a few year.... Jaime Maiz (Jim Corn) and he said be sure to get right in line and get a nice costilla. Of course by the time we made line the ribs were already gone and old Jaime was sitting in the corner with a couple of real meaty ribs on his plate and a big grin on his greasy chin.
My instructor "fell in love" with a local Gringa beach gal. En route home he started getting a really fearsome itch, hard to sit in his seat. Never saw him again after he landed at home.
El Jefe Don was a class act.
Great memories.....
Never did like flying that 210, my docile little 172 was a great fit.

BajaBlanca - 1-31-2019 at 06:46 PM

What a great article and what a wonderful love story!

David K - 1-31-2019 at 06:58 PM

Here is the Baja Bound article on Don Johnson from Martina: https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajastoryteller/don...

From 2008:

David K - 1-31-2019 at 07:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by capt. mike
they threw a huge party for him at the Serenidad shortly before he passed.
i think Larry Hahn was there too.

i talk air to air with one of his 1st hires, Capt. Chavez, occasionally. he flies caravans for GN areo servicios. he flew 440s once for Munoz. as well as the gamut of DC3s and twin B 18s.


Serenidad's 40th party and on the first photo is Capt. Muñoz with Don Johnson and Larry Hahn

Here's the caption for that photo (below):

Larry Hahn (www.BajaDreams.com) on the left and Don Johnson (www.Serenidad.com) on the right with Baja's most famous pilot, Capt. Francisco Munoz. (photo from Larry)


Don Johnson.jpg - 46kB

BajaBlanca - 2-2-2019 at 11:30 AM

Oh my gosh! What a cool story about Astaire and J Denver and of course the Duke!

How I wish I had been around here in those days....

TMW - 2-2-2019 at 12:23 PM

A couple of years ago a friend and I stayed overnight hoping for the pig roast. We were told there would be roasted pig for dinner. We did have a plate full of pork and it tasted good but I never saw where they cooked it certainly not outside where they use to. My guess is they don't get enough people to do a pig roast like they use to. Maybe if enough people showed up they would. I like staying there especially since the margaritas are really good.