The story begins with a motorcycle. Maybe a Vespa. Maybe Bultaco, Montesa, or Osa. It doesn’t matter. The protagonist is the man who drives it. its name Freddie Milian He works for Ayala Corporation, a real estate group based in Manila. As he was preparing for his vacation, a Swiss Air executive gave him a flight for being a loyal customer of the company. This is the good news. What’s not good is that he’s stuck in his company for what’s coming to him Spain To relax for a few days and his boss gives him a job. Since you will be on the peninsula, why not look for a plot of land that meets three requirements. First, it has at least one kilometer of coastline. The second: ease of access. The third is water. More water. That’s why he goes on a motorcycle. seek.
The president is a Filipino-American colonel and businessman Joseph McMeekingWhich dreams of building a luxury residential project that attracts families with high purchasing power who are tempted by privacy, sports, and quality of life, more than the parties and bustle of the Levante area or the areas close to it. Marbella. When Milian arrives at a farm called Paniagua between two rivers Mediterranean sea And the Sierra LighthouseHe stops the motorcycle and watches. There is no shortage of water: Guadiaro River It flows throughout the valley and turns it into a park. He sees a plane landing in Gibraltar and thinks that just a short drive away, behind the mountains, is Malaga Airport, which opened almost 20 years ago. There is a lot of beach. Freddy smiles. He found it.
When Freddy returns he has some proposals under his arm. One of them is an island formentera, But after careful consideration, McMeeking and his nephews Jaime and Enrique Zobel They decided to buy that farm where the manager arrived by motorcycle in that place called San Roque, in Campo de Gibraltar. Later they acquired four neighboring farmhouses: Sotogrande, Valderrama, El Conchodo, and Los Canos. All that remains is to develop this 1,317 hectare paradise.
This story has been going on for 60 years. Today Sotogrande has more than 7.000 private real estate, about 300 companies and one of the best international schools in Spain, which this year has 1,300 students, is another key piece in its development, because: What is the first thing a family looks for when they move? Indeed, a good school.
All this is distributed on a plot of land of 20 square kilometers, with… Urban density Which does not exceed 25% and continues to provide everything it promised to those families looking for privacy, sports, and good weather. It is no longer even one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in Europe. Much more. the pandemic The coronavirus has ended up prompting many holiday visitors to settle here. In 2019, according to the register, its population was 2,208. On January 1, 2022, there were already 3,572 people.
Subordinate Dukes of Alba For the heirs of France, the great Spanish titles since the mid-1960s have chosen it for their holidays, in a select but familiar environment, where everyone knows each other. Members of Brunei’s royal family, supermodels, businessmen of all ranks, Russian oligarchs, and even successful networkers, such as Ana Rosa QuintanaOr bankers and politicians gathered in this monument to discretion and sport in which they spent their summers for so many years Sarah Ferguson.
But not everything was a bed of roses. Sotogrande has seen it Ascending and descending , Although she always knew how to survive when she played and thrive when she could. In 2008, it suffered greatly from the economic crisis. The stick has spread for years. he broke down He has also come to great fortunes, but now he is doing something else. In 60 years, it has been adapting to its own growth through infrastructure, services, education and sports in search of a tourism Different It served as an economic and commercial engine, creating jobs and wealth for the region. Now reap the rewards.
“We have exciting challenges and a long road ahead of us,” he explains. Isidoro Minguez BarberoChairman of the Board of Directors and representative of Orion, the investment fund that since 2017 has been the sole owner of Sotogrande Luxco. “We want to continue the philosophy that has always distinguished Sotogrande: family, privacy, sport and quality of life. We want to remain true to its McMicking essence,” he emphasizes.
Minguez emphasizes that Sotogrande is increasingly contributing to “more economy, more jobs, more business” in an area in which it has invested “more than 200 million euros in the last six years.” Now you have it 350 employees, 94% reside in Campo Gibraltar. “our Infrastructure investment “It has enhanced tourism and the quality of life in the region, while providing opportunities for local, national and international entrepreneurs and a large, growing community of residents.”
The challenge for the future is, above all, to make a Sotogrande.”Greener“. Already in 74, one of the first wastewater treatment plants was built in Andalusia. Now it is looking for more green areas and the use of clean technologies. “In addition, we want to significantly increase our engagement with the municipality, the province and Andalus Because a large part of the success is due to the personal quality of the Campo de Gibraltar workers who helped us build Sotogrande.”
Polo and golf have characterized Sotogrande’s development since its beginnings, transforming the destination into a city World reference It attracts thousands of sports fans who decided some time ago to stay and live in this international Andalusian paradise. Many of them, the children and grandchildren of those who first came only on vacation.
The history of golf begins with the resort’s beginnings in the 1960s Royal Club of SotograndeIn 1974, Las Avis was opened, which was later renamed Valderrama It became one of the best courses in Europe and the world, and at the end of the 1990s Al Manara Golf Course was added and in 2003 Reserve club.
Sotogrande is home to five polo clubs in a region that has become the Spanish capital of this exclusive sport, a major destination in major competitions and hosts the third of the four stages of the tournament. International Polo Championship Which begins in the United States, passes through the United Kingdom, and ends in Argentina. The Ayala Polo Club organized the 52nd edition of this tournament, which brought together the best polo players in the world this summer.
Juan Carlos Ruiz BuixThe mayor of San Roque recalls “the brilliant idea that McMicking had and that Enrique Zobel accompanied him on in those early years to create the best residential area in Europe.” “We are indebted to both of them for the accomplishments of 60 years of growth having been born around a family concept that the new owners are now, orion, They wanted to enhance it with more investments like The Beach.” The council member points to the largest artificial lagoon in Spain, where everything the coastal enclave has to offer with maximum luxury is recreated in detail.
“In these six decades we have maintained commitment With different owners because the tourism it attracts allows for high levels of employment to be achieved all over the world Guadiaro Valley“, reflects Ruiz Boix.
Sixty years later, San Roque has nine golf courses, five of which are in the urbanization area. The first was Royal Sotogrande Golf Club Maximum prestige was achieved when Valderrama It hosted the historic celebration of the 1997 Ryder Cup. “He left us a high-capacity route (AP-7), among other things,” the mayor recalls.
Now there are more 5000 housesthe majority (more than 2000) in the area harbor. Sailing has always been the region’s third attraction. Hence the “kilometer from the coast”. Around the marina and marina, a center for sailing and marine sports enthusiasts, which houses the Real Club Marítimo de Sotogrande, urbanization has also received a boost. In addition, there are tennis and paddle tennis clubs, an equestrian center and two beach clubs. “It is a commitment to quality, excellence and sustainable development with moderate urban planning,” adds Ruiz Boix.
Sotogrande estimates that during August, the busiest month, the project was built by the architect Robert Trent Jones The only golf course that existed at that time is now home to 27,000 people.
Sotogrande celebrates its 60th birthday throughout the year with an extensive calendar of events. At a party in early October, Mercedes ColomboThe representative of the Andalusian Junta government in the province of Cádiz brought a “very special” souvenir. “I cherish the picture in which my father appears, Emilio Colombo“In 1962, from the point of view I thought with many other people about what the reality is today,” he said. Emilio Colombo was a surveyor and collaborated in land measurement. “It is an enclave of leisure and rest, as well as a touristic, economic, sporting and cultural reference, full of natural beauty and unique uniqueness of Andalusia.
“It’s the employment engine of Cádiz County. We’ve come a long way. Every street, every building matters.” A story of dedication, perseverance and work For this land,” he summed up.
A staple of the Sotogrande lifestyle is Residential offer And private communities located within borders Reserve club. These communities target clients with diverse budgets, from the more exclusive The Seven (plot prices start from €7,600,000), to Village Verde, a collection of luxury apartments and penthouses (prices start from €990,000). .
La Reserva latest promotions, Green villageIt consists of 121 apartments located on six hectares of green areas in La Reserva, offering residents a unique feeling of a modern community. You can also take advantage of a range of amenities, including swimming pools, gym, spa, jogging tracks and gardens, all included in the property packages. A new five-star hotel has also recently opened: The So/Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort. The future is now promising.
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