BajaNomad - Rancho Buena Vista Closing

Rancho Buena Vista Closing

akbear - 1-24-2011 at 03:52 PM

I just got word that Rancho Buena Vista is closing tomorrow, Jan 25th. Party will start at 3pm until al the booze is gone.

Another of the the Old Guard is gone. Many a beer has been spilled on that bar since the '50's.

See you there !

Oso

Bajamatic - 1-24-2011 at 03:56 PM

bummer.

desertcpl - 1-24-2011 at 04:02 PM

I still get emails from them,, its a news letter about the fishing and things, also specials that they might have, thats really terrible very nice place

Ken Bondy - 1-24-2011 at 04:13 PM

Very sad. It was my first contact with southern Baja in 1965. Spent many enjoyable hours there. End of an era.

[Edited on 1-24-2011 by Ken Bondy]

bajajudy - 1-24-2011 at 04:41 PM

Bummer!

Bajahowodd - 1-24-2011 at 05:18 PM

Stayed there so long ago. Back when the Cape area was akin to being on the moon, technologically.

Some may refer to their closing as progress. You can certainly correct me if I am wrong, but I am of the understanding that RBV did not accept credit cards and had no reservation access other than calling direct to the hotel. Any wonder why their demise?

BTW, their website is defunct.

bajafreaks - 1-24-2011 at 05:41 PM

What a drag, i love that place, lots of history, wonderful bar, would love to be there right now for one last margarita.

Ken Bondy - 1-24-2011 at 06:07 PM

Recuerdos de Buena Vista:

I was once "caught" there. This is not my proudest moment:

makana.gabriel - 1-24-2011 at 06:20 PM

That really hurts!! We just stopped there a few weeks ago on our recent trip. When we lived in CSL, we would often go there just to get away from all the craziness and absorb a different era.
Painful to hear this news!!!

bajafreaks - 1-24-2011 at 06:42 PM

Lets hope someone buys it and brings it back to its glory, it needs some help that's for sure.

desertcpl - 1-24-2011 at 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Stayed there so long ago. Back when the Cape area was akin to being on the moon, technologically.

Some may refer to their closing as progress. You can certainly correct me if I am wrong, but I am of the understanding that RBV did not accept credit cards and had no reservation access other than calling direct to the hotel. Any wonder why their demise?

BTW, their website is defunct.

lets see credit cards,, me and the wife was there in 98, they accepted credit cards then,, as a matter of fact when we got home and got my first credit card bill,, they doubled billed me., the second bill was for a few dollars more to make it look like a completely different charge, after a few months Visa denied the one charge from them, as I had the receipt
maybe this would have something to do with them closing

[Edited on 1-25-2011 by desertcpl]

Paulina - 1-24-2011 at 07:36 PM

I hate to hear this. Another "old school" baja institution bites the dust.

I hated it when Las Arenas closed, although it didn't hold a candle to Rancho.

DEP Rancho and the old memories that go along with it.

P>*)))>{

mike odell - 1-25-2011 at 09:28 AM

It is always a sad day when one of the old guard fades away.
I have many memories of the old gal, as RBV was my first East Cape
destination in the 80's. The old boat Alicia had more red and white
paint on her than Disneyland, but a great fishing boat none the less,
probably due to Victor Garciglia Capt.
Spent many a fine afternoon at the best bar in the Cape with the regulars,
guests, and longtime staff, Tony, Santos,Octavio. among others.
For years now RBV has reminded me of a beautiful old gal in a threadbare
dress, I don't usually attend funerals or wakes, but I will this one.
I am sure all of us area old timers will be there for the last rites,
I will hoist a glass for all Nomads that can't make it at 3 pm today.

lewm - 1-25-2011 at 09:31 AM

Have some great memories from there. My first trip was flying there from La Paz in a Cessna from a charter service. The return to La Paz was the one I really remember as they had an old DC-3 backed up as far as it could go. The old runway ran downhill to the sea. I sweated a little on the that takeoff. A great place to fish & relax. Sorry to hear the news.

captkw - 1-25-2011 at 09:41 AM

darn,wish we could have had lil bit more of a warning! but I will crack my first beer of the day,early,3:00 "the only thing thats consiestant in mexico is the unconsietantse"

DENNIS - 1-25-2011 at 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajafreaks
Lets hope someone buys it and brings it back to its glory, it needs some help that's for sure.

If someone does buy the place, and it sits there maintained but empty, you can bet on who the new owner is.
Some groups of people just have way too much money.

GregN - 1-25-2011 at 10:29 AM

Que lastima! As the East Cape's first (1952), it was a true Baja Legend.

bajafreaks - 1-25-2011 at 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mike odell
It is always a sad day when one of the old guard fades away.
I have many memories of the old gal, as RBV was my first East Cape
destination in the 80's. The old boat Alicia had more red and white
paint on her than Disneyland, but a great fishing boat none the less,
probably due to Victor Garciglia Capt.
Spent many a fine afternoon at the best bar in the Cape with the regulars,
guests, and longtime staff, Tony, Santos,Octavio. among others.
For years now RBV has reminded me of a beautiful old gal in a threadbare
dress, I don't usually attend funerals or wakes, but I will this one.
I am sure all of us area old timers will be there for the last rites,
I will hoist a glass for all Nomads that can't make it at 3 pm today.

Thanks Mike, wish we were there, I plan to mix a few tonight I'll be thinking about you guys at 3:00.

Pompano - 1-25-2011 at 11:35 AM

Winter 1959-1960. My Dad took his youngest son on a whirlwind small plane trip down from the frozen Dakota west--through all the Great Plains states to Texas, then into Mexico to Guaymas..then across the Cortez to Mulege..and eventually to Rcho Buena Vista. It was a magical trip for a boy barely a teenager. Huckelberry Finn times!

My dad flew his Stinson 108 station wagon all over Baja, sightseeing to many places, but I remember Rcho Buena Vista best of all. The fishing was amazing..and the marine sights we saw from the air were unbelievable. The fishermen we met were world class adventurers and the resort guides were experts in teaching a young boy to enjoy fishing the Cortez. This was no cane pole and bobber trip!

The old fishing photos are full of captured voices from great times and camraderie. The fishing reports laying around would have been unbelievable if I had not seen the action for myself. It was a far different time, for sure. Thee premier fishing resort of the Golden Age of Baja will always be nostaligic and full of good memories, whatever happens to it now.

Farethee well, oldtimer. You've had quite a run.

p.s. Mike..I will join you and others...from here at 3 for that toast.

[Edited on 1-25-2011 by Pompano]

David K - 1-25-2011 at 03:45 PM

Wow... bummer after 50+ years!

My parents and I stayed there in 1966, after driving down the peninsula in our Jeep.

I remember meals were served family style on a long table with everyone dining together.

One guest asked my dad if we flew in... he answerwed: 'No, we drove'.

Then came the 'oh you took the new ferry over from Mazatlan?'... he replied: 'No, drove down the peninsula from Tijuana'.

Ooohs and awwws followed.

Then came the 'and so your wife and sone flew down to join you???'... 'No, we all came together'!

I think the guest offered to buy my dad and mom a drink by that point!

Of the 1966 trip photos I found and scanned, I have two... However, I am not sure if this is Rancho Buena Vista or Bahia de Palmas (Palmas de Cortez), as we stayed at both... and they were only 2 miles apart.

If anyone remembers which place these photos were taken, great!

Bajahowodd - 1-25-2011 at 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by desertcpl

Quote:

I'm just going by the most recent posts on Tripadvisor and some other sites. Just seems to me that whoever has been running this place in recent times has been slowly bleeding cash. If they cannot afford, or choose not to afford such "luxuries" as having an 800 number or taking credit cards because of the costs involved, .......

[Edited on 1-26-2011 by Bajahowodd]

Leo - 1-25-2011 at 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paulina
I hate to hear this. Another "old school" baja institution bites the dust.

I hated it when Las Arenas closed, although it didn't hold a candle to Rancho.

DEP Rancho and the old memories that go along with it.

P>*)))>{

Fully agree with Paula's statement. However I did expect it a long time coming. Heard in the fall, last year that the place was sold 2 years ago, conditional. Then the ecconomy crashed and the deal went sour.

msawin - 1-25-2011 at 08:18 PM

5-6 years ago we stayed for a couple of nights there. I think we were the only ones. April/May time frame. They gave us [2-couples] the worst rooms you could have. They wound up giving us the "ray cannon" house because we complained. It really need alot of work then. Not a place I would run back to again.
A sign of the times.... marty

windgrrl - 1-25-2011 at 08:44 PM

...and it was a great party!

Bajaboy - 1-25-2011 at 08:51 PM

Good times and memories.

Zac

mulegemichael - 1-25-2011 at 09:38 PM

yeah dennis, if it is bought and sits vacant i think i know why also...we all know where the money is down there, i guess...

dizzyspots - 2-5-2011 at 10:33 AM

is this the same as HOTEL Buena Vista...just saw a bill fishing episode on cable this morning??

bajafreaks - 2-5-2011 at 10:37 AM

This is Rancho buena vista and just south is spa buena vista or hotel b.v.

[Edited on 2-7-2011 by bajafreaks]

drarroyo - 2-5-2011 at 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajafreaks
This is Rancho buena vista and just north is spa buena vista or hotel b.v.

Spa is south