Categories: Travel

Casa De Campo, Top Dominican Resort – 50 Years Old!

Casa de Campo Is Celebrating 50 Years as a Caribbean Haven

Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, one of the top resorts in the Dominican Republic, is celebrating its 50th anniversary, paying tribute to the decades-long history that has shaped it into the destination it is today. Embracing its legacy, the resort will be commemorating its evolution, including recent innovations such as the addition of the luxurious new Premier Club & Suites to the state-of-the-art The Spa Casa de Campo.

The 50th anniversary celebration will take place throughout the year with performances and events, including a tribute to Frank Sinatra, who headlined at the resort’s Altos de Chavon amphitheater for the HBO “Concert for the Americas” special in 1982, with the Frank Sinatra Tribute Band & Orchestra. With three acclaimed golf courses designed by Pete Dye, an expansive 370-slip Marina & Yacht Club, a renowned polo and equestrian club, and a 245-acre shooting club, the resort continues to evolve in tandem, catering to every indulgence of its discerning guests.

To celebrate 50 years, Casa de Campo will is offering exclusive getaways and commemorative packages for guests, hosting special events and activities throughout the year, including a concert series at Altos de Chavon’s 5,000-seat amphitheater. The lineup of upcoming events and property programming includes: 50th Anniversary Kickoff Weekend from Oct. 24 to 27; a 50th Anniversary Voices of our Generation Concert of the Century Series; two back-to-back concerts in the famed Altos de Chavon with leading Grammy award winning performances; Minitas Beach Live Rock n Roll concert party and fireworks extravaganza

Also featured will be a 50th Anniversary Golf Celebration on Saturday, Oct. 26 with a $50,000 Hole in One Competition and $50 round of golf on Teeth of the Dog, and a Golden Anniversary Package, a limited time promotion for guests to experience Casa de Campo with the most sought-after offerings on property, including accommodations in the Premier Suites at The Premier Club, a 50-minute activity of guests’ choosing, a 50-minute treatment at the Forbes four-star spa, and more.

Paving the way for luxury hospitality in the Caribbean, Casa de Campo opened in the 1970s as the most expansive and unique offering in the region. The resort has evolved into a 7,000-acre private gated community with its own international La Romana Airport and marina, as well as world-renowned sports and activities. The property rapidly became an oasis for discerning homeowners and vacationers from around the world.

Legendary golf architect Pete Dye designed courses such as the famed Teeth of the Dog and Dye Fore. Other offerings found throughout the lush grounds, including an equestrian center, a shooting center, a racquet center, and the iconic Altos de Chavon artist village, which hosts world-famous events and showcases the area’s deep history of art through the Altos de Chavón School of Design. The resort continues to define the epitome of luxury in the region with its simultaneous nods to its rich heritage, modern innovations and groundbreaking initiatives.

“Throughout the last five decades, Casa de Campo has consistently established itself as the epitome of luxury hospitality in the Dominican Republic and has continued to evolve into the world-renowned resort community that it is today.” said Jason Kycek, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Casa de Campo. “We are immensely honored to commemorate this 50-year milestone, and are excited to share the historical past, present, and future of Casa de Campo with the world. Casa de Campo is a special place, and we are grateful to the ownership for their ongoing commitment to continue to make it even more special in the years to come.”

A cultural symbol in the Dominican Republic, Casa de Campo was built in the early seventies as a lavish island retreat by Gulf + Western Industries, which owned Paramount Pictures at the time. By the early 1980s, the resort was acquired by existing ownership which has overseen the ongoing development and expansion of the 7,000-acre resort community to this day.

The resort’s distinctive aesthetic owes much to the creative contributions of Oscar de la Renta, the esteemed Dominican-born designer, and William Cox, a renowned architect from Miami. Both Cox and De La Renta’s collaboration played a pivotal role in shaping the resort’s historical identity. Today, the resort is renowned among discerning travelers, championship golfers, and global celebrities who appreciate the private gated community for its safety and exclusivity.

In 1982, Altos de Chavón’s 5,000-seat Grecian-style amphitheater opened with a star-studded performance by Frank Sinatra, marking the beginning of a legacy of hosting world-renowned performers. In 2004, Dye Fore golf course opened to the world, inaugurated by golf legend Pete Dye himself. Subsequent years brought additional expansions such as the resort’s original spa in 2008, a $40 million renovation in 2011 that elevated the main lobby, pool area refurbishments, ultra-luxurious accommodations, and the modernization of Minitas Beach Club in 2017.

Casa de Campo has hosted numerous celebrity guests, including Oscar de la Renta, Boris Johnson, the Kardashians, Jennifer Lopez and Martha Stewart. In the resort’s early days, the property most notably served as a retreat for Charles Bluhdorn, former CEO and owner of Gulf & Western. Bluhdorn was instrumental in the development of Casa de Campo and envisioned the destination as a premier filming location.

Leveraging his connections with Paramount Pictures to attract directors, producers, and actors to the Dominican Republic, Bluhdorn lured production such as “Shotgun Wedding” featuring Jennifer Lopez and “The Lost City” with Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum and Daniel Radcliffe. Many celebrities who filmed in the area or who have spent time on the vast grounds have since purchased homes within Casa de Campo’s villa community, with notables like Marc Anthony and Pitbull.

Most recently, Blair Underwood chose the resort for his wedding in 2023 and held an intimate ceremony at Altos de Chavon. Martha Stewart, who shot her historic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover at Casa de Campo, also highlighted the resort’s appeal. This cover reached record-breaking sales, marking a significant milestone in Sports Illustrated’s history.

The most recent developments on property include the opening of the Premier Club in 2022, a new building with 58 luxurious suites that offers an exclusive hotel-within-a-hotel experience and set a new standard of excellence for the property. The debut of The Spa Casa de Campo in 2023 launched the first destination spa of its kind in the Dominican Republic and was awarded the Forbes four-star Spa Award in its first year.

The resort also expanded its offerings with the redevelopment of the Casa de Campo Racquet Center in 2024 and the second annual Casa de Campo Food & Wine Festival from Oct. 11 to 12, 2024, marking Casa de Campo not only as a luxurious vacation destination but a hot spot for gastronomy and international dining as well.

On the heels of the inaugural Food & Wine Festival last year, which brought celebrity chefs Hubert Keller and Akira Back to the resort, this year’s culinary event will consist of robust presentations and experiences that celebrate Dominican and international cuisines from around the world. The lineup of celebrity chefs for this year’s event includes a return for Chef Hubert Keller, James Beard award-winning Chef Shawn McClain and American restaurateur and TV personality Chef Scott Conant.

(from insidertravelreport.com)

__________________