| Quinta del Carmen
| |
| | |
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Bubali |
| Address | Bubali 119 Aruba |
| Coordinates | 12.551985,-70.0463907 |
| Meals | Dinner |
| Price Range | $7-$45 |
| Payment Type | Cash and Credit Cards |
| Website | http://www.quintadelcarmen.com |
| Telephone | (+297) 587 7200 |
| dine@quintadelcarmen.com | |
| Rating | ★★★★★ |
| Open Hours | 17:00 - 22:00 |
| Parking | private lot |
History
In 1916, a then famous architect, Adriaan Laclé, built a "cunucu style" house for weekends and vacation ( that is where the name quinta stands for), he named it after his daughter, Maria Del Carmen.
The eagle refinery was established in Aruba, mostly for crude oil coming from Venezuela. As accidents happened quite often on the ships, a comprehensive hospital and recuperation home was required for the personnel. For this reason, they acquired Quinta Del Carmen, and the surrounding land, Bubali, with the aim of having a hospital and recuperating center.
In the 1920's a hospital was built in the back of the house. Quinta Del Carmen would become the doctor's residence. As they were building the hospital, the first patients were treated here. Quinta was actually the first hospital on Aruba. When Doctor Cameron arrived, he brought his elderly mother along. Guest quarters were built out back. Today these quarters now house the restrooms of the restaurant.
As the hospital was being established, the nurses moved into Quinta Del Carmen, and the doctor moved to a new home 100 meters north of the house.
On the surrounding lands, a golf course was created for the enjoyment and relaxation of the staff.
When the world war began, the refinery, and thus the hospital was put on hold. Quinta Del Carmen became the "clubhouse" for the few staff that stayed behind but was poorly maintained. After the war, the refinery was persuaded to have Quinta Del Carmen reopened for staff housing. The doctor still lived on the grounds, but the hospital never reopened and fell into total disrepair.
The golf course, that was built by or for an avid golfer ( Australian Jack O'Hara), in or after 1937, was still actively used. In reality, it was a seven-hole course, but two holes were played twice. The "club fridge" was on the porch of this house.
It then became a private home and was restored and kept as most possible in the original architecture by the owners who lived there. Eventually, the house, which was kept in great shape, was acquired from the Hamers family and turned into the restaurant you now know as Quinta del Carmen.