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Robert Day

and His Vision for

Cabo SolDel

~by Michael Koehn One of Cabo’s Pioneers Sees His
photos by Francisco Estrada & Masterplan Come to Life In a
Way That Will Redefine Luxury
courtesy of Cabo Del Sol~ Living in Los Cabos.

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CABO LIVING • 45

EEvery once in a while, we get an opportunity to talk 2001. Day has also served on the Board of
Directors of Freeport-McMoRan, Fisher
with some of Baja’s early enthusiasts, the people who Scientific, Société Générale and sits on the
found their way down the peninsula and discovered Board of Trustees of the Center for the Study
the charms of the area long before Cabo became a of the Presidency and Congress, and The
regular stop on the cruise ship itinerary. Broad Foundation.

Robert Day is one of those people, a highly McKenna College in 1965. He became the He also currently serves as Chairman and
successful businessman whose involvement longest serving trustee starting in 1970. He CEO of the $1.3 billion non-profit W.M.
with Cabo Del Sol is now resulting in some also served as Board Chairman. In 1971, he Keck Foundation, which focuses on funding
significant changes to the area along the Los founded the Trust Company of the West for science and engineering research, medical
Cabos Corridor. Day’s accomplishments have (whose clients include many of the largest research and undergraduate education in
been well-documented, and include a sterling corporate and public pension plans, financial Southern California.
career in financial services and a substantial institutions, endowments and foundations
role as a philanthropist. in the U.S.) and he is currently CEO of The history of Cabo Del Sol began in
Oakmont Corporation, a Los Angeles-based, 1985 when Baja pioneer Don Koll called up
The grandson of Superior Oil Company family-owned investment company he Robert Day and offered him a partnership
founder William Myron Keck, Day grew founded in 1980. The Trust Company was in a new project in the Corridor. “Don got
up in Los Angeles and received a Bachelor sold to Societe Generale for 2.5B in April me on the phone. He knew I liked Mexico
of Science in economics from Claremont and had worked on the committee to get
46 • WINTER 2019 NAFTA passed, and Don and Bud Parr
were working on a deal. Parr had twenty
miles of oceanfront there and we struck a
deal to buy the property that became Cabo

Del Sol. Koll knew from time in the area and put in the two golf courses, which were partnerships, we were the first and last to buy
developing Palmilla Hotel resort that this major additions to the area, helping to put property in the area from the Parrs, and also
property, with its gradual sloping terrain and the region on the map as a world class golf the last, with a 30-year interval in between.”
two miles of pristine ocean frontage, was the destination. Don also had the foresight
best property in Cabo. Anywhere you put in those early years to work with the local With over 1800 acres and two miles of
your finger on the map, you had an ocean government to move the highway back a mile beachfront, Cabo Del Sol has an impressive
view from the property. So Don and I struck from the Pacific Ocean, which is probably footprint in the area and quickly became
a deal to buy the property in a joint venture one of the biggest advantages Cabo Del somewhat of a Mecca amongst golfers from
between our two companies. Don took the Sol has over the other properties along the around the world, as the Jack Nicklaus
role as operator and lead developers in those corridor creating a serene feeling of quiet and Signature Ocean Course and the Tom
years leveraging the expertise and team peace in all of our beachfront neighborhoods Weiskopf Signature Desert Course were
they already had in place at Palmilla and without needing to shield the noise of the recognized and ranked among the top
immediately began adding value. We sold traffic buzzing up and down the coast. courses in the world. However, outside of the
off the two hotel parcels where the Sheraton Eventually we bought Koll out of the deal to golf community, CDS remained relatively
and the Fiesta Americana now sit (CDS does become the sole owners and operators of the
not own or operate the two existing hotels), property and related businesses. In terms of Continued on next page

CABO LIVING • 47

under the radar due to a 15-year pause in develop the property on a scale that hasn’t focus it would require to set a new standard
development activity and the majority of been seen previously anywhere in Mexico in of experience in Cabo,” says Carlton. “The
the property remaining as a blank canvas. terms of luxury resorts. environment in the area is right, we have the
Consistent through several development land, the capital and the team to do it. We
cycles in Los Cabos, with all its space Peter Carlton, President of Oakmont really feel like the stars have aligned and feel
and visual appeal, Cabo Del Sol has been Corporation, has been with the company truly blessed to be doing this with a leader in
sitting quietly, sharing its scenic charms, for 16 years and understands the potential the industry like Steve Adelson. Steve helped
but also offering the potential of so much of Cabo Del Sol. He was convinced that an set the bar for the highest end of experience
more. With southern Baja in the midst of ambitious development plan executed by a and luxury in the industry globally and two
graduating from a Western US golf and best-in-class team was the only way to fully of his crown jewel accomplishments are right
party destination to a globally recognized realize all the competitive advantages the site here in Cabo.”
family resort destination, the management has to offer in a region where luxury resort
team at Cabo Del Sol has embarked on an communities have already set a very high Adelson’s resume is impressive. He has
ambitious new master plan to revamp and bar. “The timing was right for Oakmont to been active in Cabo for more than 20 years,
provide the project with the capital and the and in a former role, he led the development

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of iconic communities El Dorado and a lot of growth in the area, but the numbers With a plan of creating the best amenity-
Chileno Bay in the Corridor, as well as 17 were good, with a growth rate of 14% rich luxury resort property in the area,
other award-winning, luxury communities over the previous year. That’s probably the the team has created a masterplan that
like Yellowstone Club in the US and Bakers highest anywhere in North America.” includes a world-class luxury resort, redesign
Bay in the Caribbean, all setting new of the two golf courses, more organic
standards of service, lifestyle experiences and “When you look at that coastline, clubhouse facilities, a golf practice facility,
luxury living, resulting in billions of dollars with the pristine, swimmable beaches two new luxury residential communities,
in real estate sales. According to Carlton, his and the scenic rock outcroppings you a mountain adventure park called La
creativity, vision and innovative leadership can really see that it’s the most private Montaña, a new generation of beach clubs,
made him uniquely qualified to lead the and magnificent piece of land within the an organic farm and garden, an observatory
project as CEO of Cabo del Sol. Corridor, in our view,” explains Adelson. and a host of adventure experiences that
“It’s a gem of a property, and, of course, the
“We saw some development around the golf courses have always been appreciated Continued on next page
area, with a number of mid-rise and high rise by avid golfers, but the magnificence of that CABO LIVING • 49
projects and we figured it was time for Cabo piece of real estate hasn’t realized its full
Del Sol to shine,” says Adelson. “There was potential, until now.”

include snorkeling, surfing, fishing, families, with 385 planned residences energy and social atmosphere. Already under
kayaking and SUP, hiking, biking, tennis, that include oceanfront and ocean view construction in La Playa is a new Park Hyatt
pickleball, climbing, rappelling, zip lines homesites, luxury resort-branded residences, luxury hotel with 166 rooms and 28 branded
and mountain biking, a desert camp Ocean Haciendas and Casitas, Beach Villas, Park Hyatt residences publicly announced to
for glamping and wellness experiences Club Villas and mountainside ranchettes, open in 2021.
like fitness training and spa facilities, in among the varied residential offerings. These
addition to the world-class golf offering new residences include the last available “We’re also bringing in some fresh retail
more ocean exposure than any other course oceanfront homesites and residences in the components and some new beach club
in Los Cabos. Corridor and will be a true community, components,” says Adelson. “You can stand
with a retail village and a market included on the high point of the property, at 230
Located within the Cabo Del Sol as part of the plan. A second oceanfront meters above sea level, and you can see the
community, the key focus of the masterplan complex, La Playa will offer its own separate famous arches, you can see the bay and the
is the Cove Club, which is being developed beach club and day club facilities with world city lights, but at the same time you feel
on over 600 acres. The Cove Club will class retail and restaurants and a more high very secluded. The terrain also happens to
provide a variety of living options for be very lush, as seasonal rains moving down

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the washes create a lushness in the area that the highest level of luxury and service. and will offer the highest quality of service in
is unique. So the vision is about much more A new program called the Cove Club’s Cabo,” explains Adelson. “We’re providing
than just having an ocean view and putting Experiences and Services Program (ESP) the kind of hospitality that originally
in a hotel and private residences. We’re will offer adventure, recreational and brought people to Cabo in the first place.
combining an exclusive golf experience and a cultural experiences at a single location for The Mexican people have great hearts and
beach club community along with a world- the community. are so warm and welcoming and that level
class resort in a way that is unprecedented in
terms of developments in North America.” ‘What will make us stand out in the area Continued on next page
is the level of service. Our Experience and
The Cove Club, in addition to its prime Adventure team members are experts in
location and amenities, promises to offer water, mountain and cultural adventures

CABO LIVING • 51

of service is one of the greatest amenities “There will be an experiential and Don Koll understood and the traditional
of this project. Those traditions will be environment here, where members can get warmth of Mexican hospitality, the
included in the architecture, the food and out and engage in the natural beauty of the foundation was there, a place that could host
the lifestyle. We have a direct connection area, whether it’s watersports, some of the a world-class luxury resort and share all the
to the land and the original farm-to-table best golf in the world or exploring the terrain charms that southern Baja has to offer. Cabo
traditions that have always been part of at La Montaña,” says Adelson. “At the same Del Sol’s team is fully invested in bringing
the culture here. Our plan calls for ten time, you can simply relax and enjoy a good Robert Day’s vision to life and fulfilling that
new dining options on the property, from read by the pool and feel like you’re in your potential for a new level of luxury living and
street taco stands to the highest level of own world.” experiential lifestyle to the Golden Corridor.
fine dining, all led by the way, by world- For more information:
renowned Chef Francis Reynard.” That’s a fitting description of the new The Cove Club
Cove Club development coming to Cabo Cabo Del Sol
The master plan for Cabo Del Sol Del Sol. The luxury amenities now being Km 10.3 Carrereta Transpeninsular
is also designed to promote a family developed on this very special property in Cabo San Lucas
atmosphere and will be a community that the Corridor will make it a world unto itself. www.coveclubcabodelsol.com El Fin!
all generations can enjoy. With the potential of the land that Bud Parr

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