Agua Caliente, Tijuana
Encyclopedia
Agua Caliente is an historic entertainment center and present day district of Tijuana
, Baja California
. The Agua Caliente Tourist Complex formed in the late 1920's along Agua Caliente Boulevard when a road was built that led from the historic Rio Zone to a natural hot springs two miles up the Tijuana River
Valley. Paramount icons of Tijuana developed in Agua Caliente such as the Agua Caliente Casino and Hotel
and the Agua Caliente Racetrack
. Today Agua Caliente is one of Tijuana's paramount tourist centers and the location of some of the city's most affluent neighborhoods.
, and Laurel and Hardy
. The resort was designed in a Mexican and Californian colonial style, fitted with gardens, its own airstrip, bungalows, minarets, baths, and the casino and hotel itself. The Agua Caliente Club was a golf course adjacent to the city that later became the Tijuana Country Club
. In 1930 the golf course had its first PGA Tour
event at the Agua Caliente Open
, won by Gene Sarazen
.
The Agua Caliente Racetrack was constructed one year later in 1929 and was the site of the Agua Caliente Handicap
. The race attracted wealthy Southern California
ns and was the richest race in North America
. In 1935, then Mexican President Lázaro Cárdenas
outlawed gambling and the resort was closed. The resort was converted into a technical school and the site gradually fell into a state of disrepair as the resort furnishings were stripped away. Though the race track continued to operate, gambling was not legalized until 1938 by which time the track was replaced by Santa Anita Park
.
In 1971 the original structure of the racetrack was destroyed in a fire. It was later repaired and continues operation today, though horse racing has been replaced with Greyhound Racing
, as the Hippodrome of Agua Caliente . Plaza Aguacaliente & Grand Hotel Tijuana are a set of twin towers built adjacent to the Tijuana Country Club, constructed in 1982. It was the first major complex built in Agua Caliente after the original Tourist Complex. The early 2000's saw the establishment of Estadio Caliente
on the grounds of the racetrack, though the stadium does not interfere with races. The development of the stadium brought Club Tijuana
to the city, it's first professional association soccer team.
, it is one of the city's tourist centers and is the site of luxury hotels and numerous shopping centers. It is the city's primary athletic center being home to the only golf course in the city, Auditorio Fausto Gutierrez Moreno
, Estadio Caliente, and the Agua Caliente Race Track.
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
, Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
. The Agua Caliente Tourist Complex formed in the late 1920's along Agua Caliente Boulevard when a road was built that led from the historic Rio Zone to a natural hot springs two miles up the Tijuana River
Tijuana River
The Tijuana River is an intermittent river, 120 mi long, on the Pacific coast of northern Baja California in Mexico and southern California in the United States.-Location:...
Valley. Paramount icons of Tijuana developed in Agua Caliente such as the Agua Caliente Casino and Hotel
Agua Caliente Casino and Hotel
The Agua Caliente Casino and Resort opened in June 1928 in the Mexican city of Tijuana, Baja California. It was a lavish resort that included a casino, spa, championship golf and tennis facilities, its own airstrip, and lots of entertainment...
and the Agua Caliente Racetrack
Agua Caliente Racetrack
The Agua Caliente Racetrack is a greyhound racing and former horse racing track in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. It opened in December 1929 at a cost of $2.5 million.One year before, the Agua Caliente Casino and Hotel opened in June 1928....
. Today Agua Caliente is one of Tijuana's paramount tourist centers and the location of some of the city's most affluent neighborhoods.
History
The hot springs around which the Agua Caliente Tourist Complex grew was a well known location and prior to major development, was the site of small hotels and cabins. With the development of the casino and resort in 1928, Agua Caliente developed as a premier tourist attraction that drew the likes of Charles Chaplin, Rita HayworthRita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth was an American film actress and dancer who attained fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars...
, and Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy were one of the most popular and critically acclaimed comedy double acts of the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema...
. The resort was designed in a Mexican and Californian colonial style, fitted with gardens, its own airstrip, bungalows, minarets, baths, and the casino and hotel itself. The Agua Caliente Club was a golf course adjacent to the city that later became the Tijuana Country Club
Tijuana Country Club
The Tijuana Country Club is a country club located in Tijuana. The Country Club was the site of the historic Agua Caliente Open and Tijuana Open Invitational, former golf tournaments on the PGA Tour...
. In 1930 the golf course had its first PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
event at the Agua Caliente Open
Agua Caliente Open
The Agua Caliente Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour first played in 1930 in Tijuana, Mexico. The inaugural event, which was won by Gene Sarazen, offered the largest purse to date — $25,000 with a $10,000 winner's share...
, won by Gene Sarazen
Gene Sarazen
Gene Sarazen was an American professional golfer, one of the world's top players in the 1920s and 1930s. He is one of five golfers to win all the current major championships in his career, the Career Grand Slam:U.S...
.
The Agua Caliente Racetrack was constructed one year later in 1929 and was the site of the Agua Caliente Handicap
Agua Caliente Handicap
The Agua Caliente Handicap is a defunct thoroughbred horse race that was once the premier event at Agua Caliente Racetrack in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, and the richest race in North America...
. The race attracted wealthy Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
ns and was the richest race in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. In 1935, then Mexican President Lázaro Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas del Río was President of Mexico from 1934 to 1940.-Early life:Lázaro Cárdenas was born on May 21, 1895 in a lower-middle class family in the village of Jiquilpan, Michoacán. He supported his family from age 16 after the death of his father...
outlawed gambling and the resort was closed. The resort was converted into a technical school and the site gradually fell into a state of disrepair as the resort furnishings were stripped away. Though the race track continued to operate, gambling was not legalized until 1938 by which time the track was replaced by Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
.
In 1971 the original structure of the racetrack was destroyed in a fire. It was later repaired and continues operation today, though horse racing has been replaced with Greyhound Racing
Greyhound racing
Greyhound racing is the sport of racing greyhounds. The dogs chase a lure on a track until they arrive at the finish line. The one that arrives first is the winner....
, as the Hippodrome of Agua Caliente . Plaza Aguacaliente & Grand Hotel Tijuana are a set of twin towers built adjacent to the Tijuana Country Club, constructed in 1982. It was the first major complex built in Agua Caliente after the original Tourist Complex. The early 2000's saw the establishment of Estadio Caliente
Estadio Caliente
The Estadio Caliente, is a multi-use stadium in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, that is mostly used for football matches.The stadium hosts home matches for the Mexican professional football team Club Tijuana, who play in the Primera División de México, Mexico's First Division. -Stadium:The...
on the grounds of the racetrack, though the stadium does not interfere with races. The development of the stadium brought Club Tijuana
Club Tijuana
Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente is a Mexican football team from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Tijuana plays in the Primera División de México It was founded in January 2007. The colors that identify the club are red and black.-History:...
to the city, it's first professional association soccer team.
Agua Caliente today
In the contemporary era Agua Caliente is one of Tijuana's most developed districts. Along with Avenida RevolucionAvenida Revolución
Avenida Revolución is the tourist center in Tijuana, Baja California, México.-History:It was the first paved road of the 20th century, an important center of economic development, and a tourist attraction notable for the visitors who crossed the border daily from San Diego, California...
, it is one of the city's tourist centers and is the site of luxury hotels and numerous shopping centers. It is the city's primary athletic center being home to the only golf course in the city, Auditorio Fausto Gutierrez Moreno
Auditorio Fausto Gutierrez Moreno
Auditorio Fausto Gutierrez Moreno is an indoor arena in Tijuana, Mexico. It is primarily used for basketball and is the home field of the Tijuana Dragons and Galgos de Tijuana. It holds 4,500 people and was built in 1969.- Sources :...
, Estadio Caliente, and the Agua Caliente Race Track.
Notable landmarks
- Agua Caliente RacetrackAgua Caliente RacetrackThe Agua Caliente Racetrack is a greyhound racing and former horse racing track in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. It opened in December 1929 at a cost of $2.5 million.One year before, the Agua Caliente Casino and Hotel opened in June 1928....
- Estadio CalienteEstadio CalienteThe Estadio Caliente, is a multi-use stadium in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, that is mostly used for football matches.The stadium hosts home matches for the Mexican professional football team Club Tijuana, who play in the Primera División de México, Mexico's First Division. -Stadium:The...
- Agua Caliente Resort and Casino Tower
- The Minaret
- Tijuana Country ClubTijuana Country ClubThe Tijuana Country Club is a country club located in Tijuana. The Country Club was the site of the historic Agua Caliente Open and Tijuana Open Invitational, former golf tournaments on the PGA Tour...
Major buildings on or in Agua Caliente
- Centura Tower
- Grand Hotel Tijuana
- Green View TowerGreen View TowerGreen View Tower is a skyscraper under construction in Tijuana, Mexico and upon completion will become a prominent fixture in the city. It will be located within the central business district of Tijuana, the Zona Rio....
Corporate presence
The following companies have corporate presence in the area:- AIG MexicoAIGAIG is American International Group, a major American insurance corporation.AIG may also refer to:* And-inverter graph, a concept in computer theory* Answers in Genesis, a creationist organization in the U.S.* Arta Industrial Group in Iran...
- Baker & McKenzieBaker & McKenzieBaker & McKenzie is an international law firm, founded in Chicago in 1949 by Russell Baker and John McKenzie. It is home to more than 3,800 lawyers spread over 70 offices in 42 different countries....
- BancomextBancomextThe Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior or "Bancomext" is a Mexican state-owned bank and export credit agency created in 1937 to promote and finance small and medium exporting Mexican companies in international markets as well as providing Consulting services for small and medium companies wishing...
- Sony MexicoSony, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
- Zurich Financial ServicesZurich Financial ServicesZurich Financial Services AG is a major financial services group based in Zurich, Switzerland.-History:The Company was founded in 1872 as subsidiary of the Schweiz Marine Insurance Company under the name Versicherung Verein...