Fueled by involvement in the war in Vietnam, antiwar protests at home, the civil rights movement, and the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, the 1960s was a time of social and political unrest in the United States. Added to that was the increasing use of psychedelic drugs, “Flower Power,” and the widening generation gap. Some Americans searching for relief from the chaos escalating at home turned to Baja California, Mexico. Although just across the U.S.-Mexican border, it felt worlds away.

This is the story of the beginnings of Punta Chivato, Baja California Sur, Mexico, in the 1960s and its subsequent development into the new millennium. Located two-thirds down the eastern Baja peninsula, this arid point, initially accessible only by sea, was an unlikely site to construct a resort hotel. Dixon Collins had a dream. Once he set eyes on this location, nothing was going to deter him from moving forward. Soon, both Americans and local Mexicans got involved, taking a personal interest in helping to make Dixon’s dream and theirs a reality.

All the characters in this book are real. I set out to interview as many individuals as possible who were willing to share their experiences in Punta Chivato during the early years. Their voices were tape-recorded with their consent. To bring the characters to life, their words and grammar were unaltered. By meldiing multiple oral recollections as well as personal letters, diary entries, emails, legal documents, and relevant information from newspapers, magazine articles, and books, the goal was to portray the first forty years of Punta Chivato as accurately as possible.

Author Biography

J.M. Joy is a retired physical therapist/industrial ergonomist. She enjoys history and hearing first-hand stories about unique life experiences. Born and raised in Santa Cruz, California, she now resides in the Sierra Nevada foothills with her husband, Greg. The couple shares a spirit of adventure, a love of the ocean, and a willingness to dream.

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