BajaNomad

Classic Hotel Serenidad Brochure (what year?)

David K - 11-3-2022 at 02:29 PM

I will guess early 70s? Pricing on the back (last page) of this 8.5" x 11" four page brochure... meals included rooms, hunting, fishing, gasoline... wow!










RFClark - 11-3-2022 at 09:00 PM

David,

I would say mid to late ‘60s based on the AC in the picture.

David K - 11-4-2022 at 05:51 AM

I don't see an AC, but here is one article on the history of the place:
https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajafever/hotel_ser...

another from Discover Baja:
https://www.discoverbaja.com/2013/07/18/hotel-serenidad-baja...

Another (newer) one, that mentions the passing of owner Nancy Johnson, in 2016, and the passing of her husband, Don Johnson, on Sept. 15, 2020 (at age 94): https://www.manzanillosun.com/hotel-serenidad/

[personal note: I stayed at the Serinidad for two nights in 2019 and admired the memorial made to Nancy. I saw Don, but didn't speak to him on a previous visit. In the mid-60s, Don served as the U.S. consulate's agent in Mulegé for any Americans needing such a service. My parents learned from him that they and he used to live on the same street (before I was born) in L.A.]

watizname - 11-5-2022 at 07:47 AM

Sorry to hyjack. I have the most vivid memory of the Serenadad from one of my first trips back in the early 80's. Bunch of us guys from Ventura went to Bay of LA to fish yellowtail. Fishing was lousy and the wind was blowing. We voted and decided to try Mulege so we jumped in our trucks and started south in the afternoon. Pulled into Mulege around dusk and found the Serenaded, and when we walked in from the parking lot after driving the desert all day, we thought we had died and gone to heaven. Palm trees, plumarias, flowers, pool, BAR, and clean rooms with electricity and hot water. The fishing was great, the food, drinks, rooms and people were all wonderful and we all had the best time of our lives. It started a decades long love affair with the Mulege, Punta Chivato area. The Serenidad was truly a magical place back then

David K - 11-5-2022 at 08:29 AM

No hijack at all... That was a great story. Thanks for sharing it!

RFClark - 11-5-2022 at 09:44 AM

David,

Aircraft sorry!

David K - 11-5-2022 at 10:22 AM

Quote: Originally posted by RFClark  
David,

Aircraft sorry!


LOL... I thought you were an air conditioning guy with that comment! LOL
Do they still call Bonanzas, "Doctor Killers"?

4x4abc - 11-5-2022 at 11:03 AM

the "S" on Cerro el Equipalito is completely gone.

David K - 11-5-2022 at 11:22 AM

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc  
the "S" on Cerro el Equipalito is completely gone.


Another interesting thing is that someone in government refused to allow the hotel to name their runway after their hotel. Its name was made officially as "El Gallito"


Thebajabeatle - 11-5-2022 at 01:45 PM

Very cool brochure. It’s not the four seasons but it has soul.The restaurant is still good with good seafood options.

TMW - 11-5-2022 at 01:57 PM

My first stay was in 1989. I always liked it. Never did the pig roast.

RFClark - 11-5-2022 at 04:53 PM

David,

After seeing Hughes take the hull of the flying Boat across the terminal Island pontoon bridge (1947?) my next recollection of an aircraft was in fact a ‘47 Bonanza in the drainage ditch at the bottom of the park at 62nd and La Brea in Los Angeles. This was secondary to whoever was flying making a few low steep turns over the park.

Most Drs especially surgeons thank they are God! The difference is God can probably fly a “V” tail Bonanza! Not many others can!

David K - 11-5-2022 at 05:38 PM

Good story RF! Glad you didn't crash!

Does anyone want this brochure (U.S. address only, please)? First one to u2u me their address gets it.

EDIT:
The brochure has a new home... thanks for the interest in old Baja nostalgia.
To the Nomads who also asked... as I go though my 55 years of collections, I will announce other such (free) stuff that fits in an envelope.

I do have many new and used Baja & mainland books for good to fair prices at www.oldmissions.com Some are rare!


[Edited on 11-6-2022 by David K]

Vince - 11-6-2022 at 05:36 PM

David, that old Serenidad brochure brings back many memories. Thanks for posting it. Looks to be late '60's to me by the pricing. Those aircraft are probably still flying. The V tail Bonanza is probably from the '50's with the small window in the back. This surgeon flew one for many hours and lived thru it! I actually prefer the Cessna 182 which had more room and could carry more. I landed at Serenidad many times, it was great when they had fuel there, saved a trip to Loreto. My first visit to Serenidad was in 1962, we came over by boat from San Carlos and walked up the river and visited Cuca at Las Casitas. She was a great personality. At the time I don't think Serenidad was built yet, Don was involved in kicking Bill Lloyd off the property. He had his own small hotel there with palm cabanas. Don actually burned it all down when we were there! He was a fantastic cook and ran a good hotel, but was a bad alcoholic. He moved down to Santispac where we stayed the next year. We all miss Don and the heady days of fly ins to Serenidad with the Baja Bush pilots and Arnold Senterfitt. Thanks, David.

David K - 11-7-2022 at 06:36 AM

Thank you, Vince! Great stories for the old Baja days!