Hello! Local here, from my years there i’ve heard from the land sellers, locals, and personal research there that the reason why some homes are abandoned or burnt down is due to 2 major court cases that happened here (not related to the hotel) first, someone who was not the owner of the land started selling plots to locals and especially US citizens in search of the american dream, the land was actually goverment property which was not figured out until the 80’s, The case escalated so much it got to the supreme mexican court and by then there was already more than a hundred houses “sold” so the home “owners” were getting evicted, as for the burnt houses that look similar and burnt, it was a house complex which was insured, so when the house “owners” heard about the mass eviction the government was doing they decided to burn their houses to claim the insurance money. At the end, some won their case and kept their houses and land, some others had to repurchase, and many more simply abandoned their houses, but by now, most cases have been settled and buying is safer now. The second case which was a little less radical, the lengueta arenosa is home to multiple endemic species of birds and plants, the issue is: home owners were removing these to make way for roads leading to the beachfront or expanding their plots, enviromentalists groups then pressed the government into declaring the lengueta arenosa as a natural reserve, this was accepted and a limit was set to the expansion of plots, but some plots were already expanded, so some houses were TRIMMED, this is specially noticeable when seen from the last set of houses on the edges of the lengueta, some roof overhangs are cut, patios were removed, and some houses were spared, but others got entire walls cut, if you look at the houses from an angle, you can tell how all these cuts are on a straight line. Till this day, land owners cannot trim the plants in front of their homes and are not allowed to build any furter up front. As for the hotel, it is currently being sold and not much is known from it other than its rumored to have been owned by Cantinflas, the most popular actor of the golden age of mexican cinema, though all locals say its not true. Thats all i know about the place, great video by the way! Looking foward for more! (P.S.: for anyone trying to sneak through the gate, security has doubled up, though you can get in easily by simply saying you are acessing the beach or have rented an airbnb there.)
I was the Residential Director of this place for 4 years when it was rockin! So much more to this story and it would take a lot of time to explain and not now!
Nice video man. I just drove by that place yesterday. I was seeking for a vacation home to chill in that specific peninsula. Very nice quiet place but noticed tons of abandoned new build homes right on the beach. The most interesting part is that there’s no vandalism or homeless people around. Everything is in great shape , just getting rotten. I remember going to that resort in the late 80s with my parents. It was nothing but American tourists staying there. It was an awesome place when active. I ask the security what happen to all the abandoned homes and resort. He said he didn’t know much, he just said had to do with some type of fraud etc. he didn’t want to say much, seem kind of nervous. He did mention legends say the abandoned resort CASABLANCA belong to famous Mexican movie actor CANTIFLAS. He would stay frequently and after he died in 1993 everything started going down, the place shut down in 1995. Who knows what’s the deal, but it’s a very nice secret getaway place to vaca. I actually got connected with an agent that rents vaca homes right on the beach in that peninsula , I’ll ask him what’s the true story behind all this mysterious abandoned places. I’ll keep you guys informed. ✌🏼 LA. Florence, California 🇲🇽 🇺🇸
I was just thinking about this place the other day… my family and I would spend our summer vacations here. It was a great place back in its heyday. At <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="894">14:54</a> where the steps and the ramp are, my cousins and I would run/slide down that ramp for fun…. Thank you for the memory rush 🙏
Thanks Captain D. I love your adventures. I kind of remember the Baja Beach and Tennis club, Going back to early 2000s, when my mom was still a trave Agent.
I'm always amazed that places like this are just left to rot. Glad to see you've ticked one off the bucket list(ish). The more you knock off now, the shorter the list later.
That is incredible no gang tags. still intact and the most amazing view. The one thing that blew me away was the amount of beautifully laid brick work. I'm not a brick layer, I do appreciate the art , math and labor it took to install. Too bad it cant be resurrected. Although I kept waiting for the army or others to show up. Great video thanks for the ride. Peace and keep the faith. Cheers Dean
That's so crazy to see. When I was a kid my family used to camp on that peninsula and it was nothing but sand dunes. That was about 30 years ago. Gotta love Mexico. Big plans that seldom get finished.
You're likely thinking of a different peninsula - The hotel only ceased operation 23 years ago, and has had Americans (mostly retirees) living on it since the early 80s.
My family has owned property on that strip for 50+ years so I grew up going down to Ensenada at least 3 times a year (for months at a time). I always remember seeing the abandoned club and my parents and grandparents even went there while it was still operational! I have explored the property myself but never in depth because they have increased the security patrols over the last few years. Super nice location and I wish one day someone would be allowed to renovate it but the people who own the land down there are really picky with what they do with it now.
Hello from Santa Cruz in California, Dustin! The plant you pointed at is an ice plant. Grows crazy along the shores here. Up the coast closer to Pigeon Point Lighthouse, a section of the plant caught fire when 2020’s CZU fire jumped Highway One. Who would’ve thought a watery plant such as the ice plant could burn? Thank you for yet another wonderful video!
My grandmother owned a home on the beach there. I know the whole story. Very sad for the Americans who fell victim to oversea land development. It was a wonderful place to visit for a long time before the rights to the land were taken away
Awesome video. I was born in Tijuana and we used to go to Ensenada and Rosarito a lot. La bufadora and Valle de Guadalupe should be on your visit list. This places are beautiful too.. Thank you for this video, it reminded me of my childhood…..
Well Ive finally caught up. I binged the last 19 episodes. So good to be in internet land with cell phone reception again. You are over 100,000 subscribers. Yeah!!! I have been thinking about motorhoming it down the coastal highway from the Olympic Peninsula to Mexico for 35 years! We used to ride from San Louis Obispo -Port Angeles in the back of my parents station wagon a couple times a year to visit my Grandma, 55 years ago. Bad luck about picking the first time it monsooned on that route in 20 years. Lol. Usually the only moisture you get besides sea spray is dew when the fog lifts in the morning. I enjoyed every single episode today. It felt like a gift.
You know i have to wonder about the broken dreams, the endless dollars spent all for nothing. Such a shame. Great explore tho. Glad all that black mold didn't get ya.
My Grandparents bought a beach home here for about 300,000 back in the 80's. They hired a Mexican lawyer to supposedly fight to save their home but in the end they lost everything. Lesson learned. As an American I would not risk buying a home in Mexico, (not even considering the scarier risk that are there now.)
Rose coloured carpet and walls.. Must have been built in the 80's.... That reminds me, in the late 80's my uncle, who builds houses, built two identical bungalows beside each other in the country. One of the houses had dusty rose carpet throughout and pink walls. The other house was done in beiges. Guess what house sold first? Yup, the pink one.. Well dusty rose was a very popular colour back then.. lol.. Sad to see this place deteriorating. Thanks for the video Dustin.
Just a thought Dustin,be careful when you explore abandoned places and they have pools of water inside. You never know when a live wire could’ve submerged.
Well done Dustin! So, not sure which direction you're headed, Baja Hwy 1, or headed east through Mexico's wine district towards Hwy 3 and south. I will mention that there is a natural hot spring in Puertecitos, south of San Felipe, well worth the visit. And must mention legendary Mike Sky Ranch. just west of San Felipe. Not for the motorhome! But maybe,,,,,,,,Narley Davidson after parking the class A in a secure place! Gotta say again, Coco, at Coco's Corner!!!!!!!!! If Hwy 1, then stop at legendary Mama Espinozas, in El Rosario. Baja 1000 offroad heaven!
Go to Flor de Calabaza for a great meal. Yamel is a great chef, love the breakfast he made me last trip there. I used to go to Ensenada once every two months from LA, I kinda enjoy it and La Bufadora
Would have been a beautiful community. Loved the arched windows and the "fat" palm trees throughout the resort :o) The ocean suites are awesome. The nightclub is gorgeous and I loved the fish tank. The pool in the basement was kind of strange. So sad to see it in such a state of disrepair. Great explore though. Thanks Dustin. Happy New Year!! :o)
Lols! Just in the last moments there "Dustin Austin, the 6 Million Dollar Man" - Sorry, you just reminded me of that show with the running bit there! Lols! Got ma Hoodie on right now, keeping me warm while it's snowing here in Aberdeen, Scotland - Cheers Bud!
Amazing how its all been left to rot away. Also Dustin when you are walking thru those rooms with water everywhere and mould, its advisable to wear a mask as the spores can make you very sick. Thanks for the visit!
Wow!! I stayed there when it was new. I was 20 maybe. It was beautiful. The theme was CASABLANCA. The round bar you were in was called Bogie's I think the restaurant was called Ingrid's. I was just wondering what has happended to it. Sadly, now I know. Thank you!!
Well watched and read the comments and seen you ride thru a guard shack with a English stop sign and yet you push your LUCK .was SURE you were going to lose it ( the bike ) but No off to another adventure and more to discover take care.⛱️🏆
Love your channel Dustin I live in New Zealand and was thrilled to hear you say you visited Fiordland . I'm enjoying your channel and places you visit found you channel by accident
What a waste! Here I am wanting for my own home and all those houses just rotting away. I would have been one of the first owners had it ever been finished. Such a shame!
The plant you mention on minute <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="370">6:10</a>" it's called "Ice plant" in the USA, the scientific name is "Carpobrotus Edulis", originally from South Africa. it's a very popular plant from the "suculent" family; very useful in filling medians and freeway edges, as it doesn't require much maintenance, nor a lot of water, it's good for avoiding erosion. If you brake the "finger-like" leaves, they are actually very moist.
I keep forgetting that filming abandoned places is your thing, which is cool… I was kinda hoping you would venture into the beautiful places Baja has to offer, instead of failed resorts. I’m also afraid that you’re going to get into trouble trespassing onto these spots…. The cops can be assholes, believe me, first hand experience. But you keep being you! 😀
Dude, you missed the coolest spot of this whole place. The massive ‘whispering gallery’ (look up the definition) to your left at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1174">19:34</a>. Absolutely Mind blowing acoustics. Great vid bro.
What's up Dustin! Another awesome adventure. Only one thing concerns me, u definitely should be wearing a mask. There was a lot of black mold, n with the wind cutting thru releases spores, breathing that in can be detrimental to ur health. It can cause so much damage, even death. Please be safe. Thanks for sharing.
In the Animal Kingdom, species build, use, and maintain their homes and habitats with pride and care. In the Human Kingdom, sometimes, not so much!! The reason?? Money......DUSTIN!!! You are amazing in your multi-talented World of maintaining US-your avid followers. Thank YOU!
Wow - what a waste of space. So sad! There are so many people in need of housing that would love to live in these abandoned resorts. Why is this abandoned and nobody looking to rebuild?
Yo D, get yourself a WowTac A5 for these types of shots, its a mini flood style light so there arent hotspots the camera would pick up and its up to 3600 lumens, battery also lasts along time :)
They do. But #1 this is in the country side not the city and #2 Mexican dont disrespect other people's property and last but not least there are security guards
In the late 80's/early 90's there were a bunch of properties in that area that were sold to Americans for vacation homes, I forget the details, but iirc the seller did not have clear title to the land and the gringo's were all booted out, something like that.
Duh! BC is Baja California not British Columbia! Hubs & had a terrible cruise that stopped in Ensenada in December 1999 & today I found a few of my photos and made a scrapbook page! We weren’t impressed with it, though Hubs did get to try street tacos. I declined as I figured someone should be able to help if he got sick- the shop conditions were suspect. I like watching your adventures because I don’t go into abandoned buildings, I just photograph from the doorways.
What a great adventure Dustin I think that place was pretty crazy you know where the few dollars and a couple bottles of tequila you could probably get some Mexicans together and take over that place you know everything's less expensive down there be safe. 👍✌️😜
Look up this L.A Times article from Oct. 22, 2000 about what happened there. I think someone sold something that didn't belong to them, probably by some Carpet bagger smiling all the way to the bank. Angry Americans Await Baja Eviction BY KEN ELLINGWOOD OCT. 27, 2000 12 AM PT
