I know you are the Cozumel historian so I thought I'd direct this to you - What is the story behind the castle outside Puerto Abrigo? Anyone I ask gives me a different story. Thanks!
El Graduado
- Thread starter Sloeber
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
El Graduado
Contributor
- Messages
- 833
- Reaction score
- 1,666
Francisco Rangel Castelazo built the “Castillo” in front of Puerto de Abrigo.
He won the concession to run the Puerto de Abrigo yacht basin for 25 years in the 1970s. Rangel built the Castillo, but he never finished the building, probably because he built it on a whim; he was a multi- multi-millionaire who owned and developed thousands of acres of land all over Mexico, a lot of it in Playa del Carmen. Rangel died just last year at the age of 90.
Below is a photo of Puerto de Abrigo prior to it being built.
He won the concession to run the Puerto de Abrigo yacht basin for 25 years in the 1970s. Rangel built the Castillo, but he never finished the building, probably because he built it on a whim; he was a multi- multi-millionaire who owned and developed thousands of acres of land all over Mexico, a lot of it in Playa del Carmen. Rangel died just last year at the age of 90.
Below is a photo of Puerto de Abrigo prior to it being built.
OP
Thank you, sir! I appears to sit mostly empty with possibly some squatters in it. Is that correct?
This is the same gentleman that built the hotel sitting down near Buccannos, yes? (That also appears to have never been finished)
This is the same gentleman that built the hotel sitting down near Buccannos, yes? (That also appears to have never been finished)
El Graduado
Contributor
- Messages
- 833
- Reaction score
- 1,666
I assume the building now belongs to Rangel's daughter, but I'm not certain. She used to have her office in it, but not now.
The damaged hotel tower (the old Cozumel Caribe Hotel) next to Buccanos was not built by Rangel. It was built by Fernando Barbachano, Sr. His son Juan Barbachano now owns and runs Buccanos. Juan's wife is the chef. The old hurricane-damaged tower still has a few yearly-renters, but it will eventually be torn down. Buccanos was the original building for the Cozumel Caribe, but just like the old Sol Caribe (now Royal Plaza) and the La Ceiba (now El Cid) they added an adjacent tower later.
The damaged hotel tower (the old Cozumel Caribe Hotel) next to Buccanos was not built by Rangel. It was built by Fernando Barbachano, Sr. His son Juan Barbachano now owns and runs Buccanos. Juan's wife is the chef. The old hurricane-damaged tower still has a few yearly-renters, but it will eventually be torn down. Buccanos was the original building for the Cozumel Caribe, but just like the old Sol Caribe (now Royal Plaza) and the La Ceiba (now El Cid) they added an adjacent tower later.
OP
Thanks for the information. Too bad about the Cozumel Caribe Hotel. I took a walk through the property last week. I bet that was an amazing structure when first built.
Similar threads
