Business
The Jewel of the Sea of Cortez
By Margaret Fleming
Nov 30, 2002, 12:15

The Jewel of the Sea of Cortez

by Margaret Fleming

La Jolla del Cortez is a new RV park located between Playa Bonita and Palmar RV Park. Owned by Americans Jim and Pat Clark, it has been open for business about 4 months.
The Clarks have been vacationing in Puerto Peņasco for many years. In 1994 they bought this land and have been improving it. The beachfront has been heavily reinforced against storm damage. There are 5 feet of concrete below the bottom of the wall, which tapers gradually toward the top. Electricity and water have been installed.
The outer wall of the park is attractive and distinctive. It has triangles formed from large stones set into a block wall covered with concrete. Pat picked up stones on the beach to make the design. One side wall of the park is formed from block and rebar in an abstract, almost surreal, pattern.
The RV park itself will have 60 spaces when it's complete; about half of them are finished already. There's a launching ramp for boats, and Jim and Pat rent different water toys--catamarans, kayaks, canoes, and jetskis. They also offer boat trips with Rafael, a Mexican captain who has 23 years of experience.
A tiny rental hut was built by Pat from leftover materials. Her Mexican workers were not used to building with wood, but she is a contractor's daughter, and she showed them how to do it. Then, to cover the structure, she used rolls of bamboo. The hut looks very attractive--and different.
Building and operating this RV park is the third career each for Pat and Jim. Pat was a teacher in a parochial school; then she and Jim owned and operated an automotive after market. Jim was a U.S. Marine for 10 years, serving in both World War II and the Korean War. Then he spent 14 years in the active reserves, where we was a Seabee on the Admiral's Staff. He bought the Automotive After Market when he retired.
Jim and Pat are enterprising people, and their RV park is a welcome addition to Puerto Peņasco.