I think in the late 70 or very early 80... it was already there when I arrived, a bit different than it is now, because there were small wooden chalet very eparse bellow the trees. You can actually see on the picture, very far away the roof of Pedro and then further down few of the roof of Club O chalets.

Kind Regards,
Philippe



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I'd love to know the answer to that one also, Barbara. It seems we always knew there was a 'nudist club' - (giggle, giggle, wink, wink - this was the attitude of so many who talked about it back then....) over there but I can't remember when we first heard of it.

The picture Philippe posted is the way I remember OB way back when we first started visiting. We made it to Orient back in '73, and believe it or not, for a first time visitor to even find this beach was not the easiest thing in the world to do.

But it was as pristine and perfect as Philippe's picture portrays. I guess that's why I don't get all the hype over todays version of Orient. Given my druthers, I'd take his picture to that of today in a heartbeat!

Sometimes when you try to improve on perfection it ends up going horribly awry.

Respectfully,

pat

The info that I found regarding the date of birth of Club O are conflicting... One website says "built in 1980" and another one, written more like an article says it has been the "home of the naturists since the 60's"... Personally, I would go with that second possibility even though I thought it was more in the 70's but.. at that time I was living another life on another continent, so...LOL

Kind Regards,
Philippe



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club O was not there in the 70's was it? I came here in 1976 and it was not there.
I would have thought more like the 80's.....no?

[barcann.livejournal.com]

A little internet searching and I found a claim that Club O was constructed in 1978 with 137 units.....

Just Another Ho Hum Day On D Planet

I'll give them a call today, maybe someone will know exactly there...

Kind Regards,
Philippe



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Didn't call them but I found this 1976 aerial view of the Galion Hotel,and it is obvious that Club Orient didn't existed yet... So Barbara and Neil you are certainly right!



Kind Regards,
Philippe



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1978? that early?
I had no idea.
i really thought it was the mid or late 80's.

[barcann.livejournal.com]

Pedros was there early on too?

As I remember sitting there drinking a beer listening to the chicken getting cut up with that huge knife. And looking down the vacant beach.

SXM??? Wendell

Pedro's was the first thing on that beach.
later Club O came..we were just not sure when Club O came though.
Neil, do you have the link for where you found it was 1978?

[barcann.livejournal.com]

We may have the answer soon!...LOL... I called Club Orient but... unfortunatly nobody could give me the right answer and nobody knew!!! wooow.... So I just sent a PM to the original owner/builder Arent Brink, hopefully he will know...

Kind Regards,
Philippe



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that's funny. no one knew?? LOL

[barcann.livejournal.com]

You see that is exactly what I am saying about here! people have short term memory! this is not like we are talking about centuries ago, just 30 years... and nobody knew!

But wow... Arent was fast to answer my PM and here bellow is his response :

"The property was bought in 1978. The building started in 1979. The official opening was in 1983
Between 1979 and 1983, some units were occupied part time, equipped with bottled water and oil lamps."

So it settles it! LOL

Kind Regards,
Philippe



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ok, that makes sense
Thanks P
I was sure that it was not there until the early 80's..
I guess they had limited operations before that.
oil lamps! Love it!

[barcann.livejournal.com]

Here's a link about the early relationship between Pedro's and Club Orient. I'm not sure who authored it, perhaps Andrew MacDonald (?) who wrote an item on Orient Bay found elsewhere on the linked site.

Interesting how Mr.Reint Brink worked a "deal" w/ Pedro to relocate in exchange for water and electricity.

Question for the moderators... how do you post a picture within a post similar to Philippe's picture of the Galion Hotel above?

Thanks and Regards, Ray.