By Robin Thornley
For most of its modern existence Cabo San Lucas was a sleepy fishing village located at the tip of the Baja Peninsula. Before that, it was visited first by Indians and later Spanish explorers, then pirates and priests. Then, in the 1950s Hollywood discovered the small town and within a decade plans were under way to make it a premier
resort, now one of
Mexico's most celebrated vacation spots.
Pirates
The secret coves around Cabo made it a favorite hiding spot for English pirates like Sir Francis Drake, eager to capture Spanish galleons loaded with spices and treasures from Asia.
Priests
In 1730, Spanish Jesuit missionaries established their mission San Jose del Cabo to serve as both church and fortress to quell Indian rebellions and pirate attacks.
Fishing Village
In 1927, a large cannery was built in Cabo San Lucas and cannery ships anchored offshore, making it one of the largest tuna canning operations in North America.
Sportfishing Capital
In the 1930s, sport fishermen began flocking to the area, attracted by marlin and other abundant deep sea fish, winning the sleepy town the accolade "Sportsfishing Capital of the World."
Hollywood Pioneers
John Wayne, Bing Crosby and other big Hollywood names "discovered" Cabo in the 1950s, flying in on small private planes since no roads reached the southern tip of the peninsula.
Tourism
A cannery manager and the son of a Mexican president both recognized Cabo's potential allure and began to build resort hotels in the area in the 1960s.
Connections
Daily scheduled airline flights were added in the 1960s, but the big development signaling Cabo's growth boom was the completion of the 1,059-mile peninsula highway in 1973.
Resources
About the Author:
Robin Thornley has been a successful writer for more than 25 years, penning articles for national magazines, newspapers and websites. She specializes in a variety of topics, including business, politics, lifestyle trends, travel and cuisine. She also is the author of two guidebooks.
