Rancho Loma Linda, later Club Aero Mulege
We started building this hotel in 1958 and finished it in 1959. It was the only hotel in this primitive area of Mulegé. It was stolen from us by the most blatant thieves of the Mexico City Government. One in particular, 'Eng Manuel Cortes. It was then used by government-backed thieves to rip off other gringos who thought they could own this hotel for little or nothing. It is now a ghost of a once-wonderful hotel. It was closed in 1970. This story is in my book, One Hell of a Ride.
 Rancho Loma Linda, later Club Aero Mulege Click above photo for larger version.In 1958, a small group of us discovered and visualized the future of this area and we are hoping you will visualize it through our eyes and our hearts as we have. For those who are interested, the following is a short story of our construction methods.
In 1958, we purchased the property and in this same year planned our difficult problem of building a resort in this remote area. In January 1959, we felt we were ready to start so we drove a dump truck with camping gear from the states 700 rough miles below the border. This trip as a rule is a seven-day journey, as the roads are o more than pounded-out burro trails.
On arrival, we cleared enough brush to land an airplane where the airport now stands. We hired approximately sixty men, both journeymen and helpers from Guaymas and Mulegé. Those who came from Guaymas brought their families and they immediately set up thatch huts to the point where we became a reservation.
Water was brought from the little reservoir and boiled for drinking and cooking purposes. We began probing for a water well after hand-digging four holes 20 feet wide ad 23 feet deep. We finally hit good water. The rest of the crew was busy hauling in flagstone by burros, a seven-mile jaunt.
Our flatbed trucks hauled in the lava rock. The local prisoners were busy building our kilos and making our bricks. The tile-makers were moved with their families six miles into a canyon which yielded the only adaptable clay for the fragile tile. Our glass, cement, lumber, etc., were shipped in from Guaymas to Santa Rosalía, 42 miles north, and then trucked down to Mulege. What we couldn't get from Guaymas we trucked from Tijuana and La Paz. All our fuel, aviation, truck, and diesel, is also trucked the rugged miles from La Paz and Tijuana.
Our floor tile was made and shipped from Guaymas. Our trees and plants were shipped in also. Our palms we transplanted by hand. We used no heavy equipment such as bulldozers, etc. All our well-digging, filling, etc., was done with pick and shovel. The swimming pool was dug by hand and hand-packed. Our water tank was cement-packed in sections by hand. The brick and all tile are handmade. Most of the employees working here now are the same employees who helped build this resort and have been taught to do other work such as boat captains, cooks, helpers, room maintenance, shop maintenance, etc. The large woven mat in the dining room was woven here by one man - it was a six-month task.
This was an ugly water tower that Lou made into a decorative viewpoint
with a stairwell that was made of wrought iron.
The large black kettle which stands in front has a history that goes back so far we are not quite sure what story to believe. Some of the old timers here claim their forefathers told them the Chinese used it for making opium. Others claim it was used for making soap. So take your pick. At one time, there were many Chinese in the area, but they were expatriated as most of them were here illegally. The surrounding area here contains many Indian caves and paintings. The hills are rich with minerals such as copper, gold, silver, platinum, onyx, manganese, and gypsum, etc.
The area has approximately fifteen varieties of tropical fruit, mangos, bananas, guavas, dates, papaya, pomegranates, grapes, figs, lemons, limes, oranges, and many others.
The river is brackish and is formed by seven artesian springs a mile and a half above town.
We thank you and the many other guest who helped us build a successful venture. This has been possible only because you have shared our dream. — by Lou Federico
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