{"id":15915,"date":"2019-03-25T19:55:14","date_gmt":"2019-03-25T19:55:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/artefits.org\/ephemeralart\/?page_id=15915"},"modified":"2019-05-16T15:49:37","modified_gmt":"2019-05-16T15:49:37","slug":"people-of-dorado","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/artefits.org\/ephemeralart\/people-of-dorado\/","title":{"rendered":"People of Dorado"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Living Beginning<\/span><\/h3>\n

Dorado, el para\u00edso de Puerto Rico, was founded in 1842 under the name of San Antonio del Dorado. \u201cAlthough quickly annexed to its neighboring municipality, Toa Alta, in 1902, it regained its autonomy in 1905\u201d, the same year Dr. Alfred Livingston arrived to the island. Astonished by the beauty offered in the tropical spaces of Dorado, the doctor purchased 1,700 acres of land in the area close to the Atlantic Ocean, Mata Redonda<\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

For years, Livingston\u2019s effect on the economic aspect of the town revolved around his Hacienda<\/i>, where he cultivated and exported grapefruits and coconuts. The doctor also provided housing for all his workers and their families, \u201ca free medical clinic\u201d for the town, and \u201cwas one of the founders of the first school in the area\u201d\u00b9.<\/span><\/p>\n

After Alfred\u2019s death in 1923, his daughter Clara Livingston, acquired the managing position of the plantation. During her years with the land, Clara further developed her love for aviation by becoming the 100th licensed female pilot and 11th female helicopter pilot. In 1926, the aviator built the Dorado Airport where she imparted flying lessons until selling the plantation to Laurence Rockefeller in the 50\u2019s era due to the monetary increase in production costs and travel prices.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI want to capitalize with the frontiers of natural beauty, \u00a0<\/span>making sure to never damage them. \u00a0<\/span>It will take time and money to reach this agreement <\/span>between man and nature between protecting beauty\u00a0<\/span>and structuring the installations- but it will surely worth the while.\u201d\u00b2<\/address>\n<\/blockquote>\n
-Laurence Rockefeller \u00a0<\/span><\/address>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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An Ecological Luxury<\/span><\/h3>\n

After buying the land, conservationist, Laurence Rockefeller decided to build a hotel that could \u201cmake the most of the land\u2019s natural characteristics while providing tranquility and privacy for the guests\u201d. Construction of Puerto Rico\u2019s RockResort began in 1955 with Harmon Goldstone, O\u2019kelly M\u00e9ndez, Bob Newline, and Robert Trent Jones, Sr. as contractors and architects claiming only 65 acres of the land for the hotel and 232 acres for the golf course. In 1958, the Dorado Beach Hotel was inaugurated with an elegant dinner featuring millionaire friends of Rockefeller, also recognized as the \u201cfabulous 150\u201d. For years after, the Hotel\u2019s guests ranged from famous actors to important political characters, becoming the \u201cmost ecologic and luxurious resort of the Caribbean\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/h4>\n

In order to develop a complete usage of the 1,700 acres, in 1957, Rockefeller hired german architect Henry Klumb who proposed the construction of the Dorado Beach Estates. The \u201cresort residential community\u201d, for either permanent residence or second home, was the first phase of development at Dorado Beach; it also presented a plan for the growth of a horticultural space close to the airport \u201cso as to not interfere with the aerial activities\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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A Rocky and a Pritz\u201d Walk Into a Hotel\u2026<\/span><\/h3>\n

Throughout <\/i>the years, Dorado Beach Hotel and Estates turned the town of Dorado into a golf haven which produced an increase in upscale tourism, positively affecting the socio-economic growth in the area. At the beginning of the 70\u2019s era, a new RockResort began construction. Preparing the second phase of the Dorado Beach development, with architects Toro and Ferrer involved, The Cerromar Beach Hotel used 700 acres of the land and included a new golf course. Nonetheless, in 1973 Rockefeller \u201csold all his stocks to Eastern Airlines, Inc.\u201d, where he worked as a director and principal stockholder. From there on the land was divided and sold to other companies and associations until \u201cthe land was no longer part of the Dorado Beach resort\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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