 |
 |
|
 |
  |
|
 |
  |
|
  Pablo Etchevers |
||
| First international tourist destination. Pride and weakness of the Argentinian aristocracy from the 1900s. A story both unique and majestic. Ladies and Gentlemen, the grand Club Hotel Sierra de la Ventana. |
 |
|
When back in the early 1900s, the concept of tourism we have today did not exist, a group of Argentinian and English visionaries began to raise the foundations of a huge dream.
So big and majestic was it that even today, after one century, turned into ruins and abandoned to the passing of time, it keeps attracting guests who are pleased with just touring its corridors, its halls and what is left of its exotic and extravagant rooms. From Health Care Center to Majestic Hotel During one of his visits to Sierra de la Ventana, Mr. Félix Muñoz M.D., specialist in respiratory diseases, found a healthy kind of weather ideal to cure respiratory and nervous disorders. Soon, he had an idea: building a large hospital there would be a good investment. Mr. Manuel Láinez M.D., a friend of Mr. Muñoz's and owner of a significant portion of land in Sierra de la Ventana, resolved to include the British company Southern Railway in the project. This company's line used to cross the pampa towards the Southwest heading for Bahía Blanca was representing good profits for the British. Therefore, they saw an excellent opportunity to increase passenger traffic even more across this beautiful area: building a huge and ostentatious hotel resort. Totally unforeseen, not only for Argentina which was still undergoing consolidation, but also for the old Europe, where the meaning of the word “tourism” was still unknown. So, in August 15, 1903, the hotel train station was inaugurated. Later on, it would be called Sauce Grande Station, and at present, it bears the name of Sierra de la Ventana. |
 |
|
A Giant Is Born
The construction of this huge resort began in 1904. It was built with bricks specially brought by Ernesto Tornquist, a citizen of Sierra de la Ventana who had recently acquired a brick kiln in Czechoslovakia. The hotel size and features were spectacular. Extreme care of detail was taken care of at every corner of the facilities. With an undercover surface of 6,400 square meters, all kinds of comfort were guaranteed. Some of the facilities included solarium gallery, restaurant decorated in the Louis XVI style, winter garden, ballroom with 150 seats, 3 casino halls, a mezzanine used as night club, 2 beauty parlors, a tower with a vantage point overlooking a panoramic view of the entire mountain range area, a music hall for concerts, a plentiful library, golf courses and tennis courts. “The Wonder of the Century”, as Julio Argentino Roca called it, lodged the most selected Argentinian and foreign aristocracy of those days. The guests to the official inauguration held in November 11, 1911 included many surnames that still resound in our ears and after whom the streets of the city of Buenos Aires, as well as the districts of almost the entire province, were named. |
 |
|
Nothing Lasts Forever
Between 1913 and 1914, the world echoes of great economic depressions and wars caused the hotel to suffer great losses. In 1917, games of chance were prohibitted and, three years later, the owners of the Club Hotel (most of them Englishmen) resolved to close the facilities and to stop all activities in the mountain range area, as well as in the narrow gauge railway line. Finally, in November 30, 1924, the government of the Province of Buenos Aires took charge of the hotel with the purpose of settling down a vacation center for students, educators and their families. This project was never fulfilled. In 1939, after the confrontation between the German battleship Graf Spee and the British cruises Exeter, Achilles and Ajax in the Río de la Plata, the sailors taken as prisoners were transferred to the former Club Hotel de Sierra de la Ventana, where they stayed until February, 1946. During those 2 years, the hotel became alive again and was restored by the inmates. Nevertheless, the departure of the sailors to their country of origin let oblivion and abandonment succeed once again. The projects of relaunching the venue, as well as the constant franchises, could not achieve any result. Eventually, in 1978, the demolition works began. In July 8, 1983, the Gran Club Hotel Sierra de la Ventana was devoured by a fire some people claim to have been intentional. However, the experts assured it was an accident. Although today it lies in ruins, almost one century after its inauguration, its track continues to motivate permanent visits. |
|
To Take into Account:
In Sierra de la Ventana, it is possible to find a book which tells this story with perfect detail and includes stuff such as the list of remarkable surnames that were present during the inauguration party or the complete menu served to the hotel guests in those days. This small jewell, called “Club Hotel de la Ventana, the Story of a Giant” by its creators, was written by Stella Maris Rodríguez and Sergio G. Rodríguez, two ancient denizens of Sierra de la Ventana who still keep the hope that one day the hotel can be what it used to be once more. |
 |
See also: Hotels in Sierra de la Ventana and other accommodation venues |
| Contact: Profesora Stella Maris Rodríguez Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata-Facultad de Humanidades (7600) Mar del Plata - Buenos Aires |
| Back to Paleontogy Museums and Sites |
| Rates and fees must be requested from each operator. Welcome Argentina does not provide this kind of information. |
|
|
© 2003-2012 Total or partial reproduction forbidden. Derechos de Autor 675246 Ley 11723
