El Parque, A Beautiful Gated Community In San Antonio
El Parque is located in San Antonio, right off the main street. It goes up at the stop light near Super Lake and Tony’s restaurant. As you go up the hill, it is about half a block and to the right. You will see the gate with the guards.
Guards at El Parque
You can’t come inside unless a resident has invited you. The guards always call the person you want to visit before they open the gate.
Just beyond El Parque is a school and beyond that is the local Little Theater. It is run by expats and I have heard that they put on many interesting plays. Anyone interested in the theater is welcome to join in the fun. One of these days I hope to go there and see a play, after my ankle heals.
El Parque is a beautiful community. At one time it was a Recreation Vehicle Park. It must have been special. I have read that it was well known as one of the best in Mexico. There are many beautiful trees here. In 1955 they started building the swimming pool.
El Parque Pool
El Parque was an R.V. park for fifteen years. It was called Pal Trailer Park. Many of the same people returned every winter. They kept their trailers here. They added on brick side rooms and porches. They developed a thriving community. Every Thanksgiving there was a dinner. There were many parties and other social events. Lifelong friendships were formed.
Unfortunately, the park couldn’t continue because most of the time the people were gone. Omar O’Rourke was working in an office at Lloyd’s bank in Guadalajara. He decided to become a builder. In 2002 Omar and his architects, engineers and many other workers began building small homes in the park. They quickly sold out. It is no longer a trailer park. It is El Parque and when homes come up for sale they go quickly. Every home in here is beautiful. There 114 of them.
El Parque
I am a swimmer and the pool here is heated. It is also salt water. As far as I am concerned, it is the bet swimming pool in this lakeside area. There is also a beautiful clubhouse where something is scheduled almost daily. There are Thai Chi classes, dance classes, and bridge. I don’t know what all goes on there because I can’t get out of the house now. I am house sitting here. I know they have volleyball in the swimming pool several times a week. There is a gym in the clubhouse with many exercise machines and also a book lending library.
Entrance to the Pool
I hope they have a Thanksgiving dinner here. I would like to meet more people. My neighbors have been wonderful to me. The owner of the house where I am staying told me that they all stick together and help each other out. I found that out the first day when her phone wasn’t working. I rolled to the front porch and yelled for help. A neighbor came over immediately and gave me one of his phones to use. He dropped by a few minutes ago to see if I needed anything from the store. Several people have come to visit me and ask how I am doing.
El Parque is just a short walk down the hill to Super Lake grocery store and several nice restaurants. San Antonio is a beautiful town. It is smaller than Chapala and Ajijic. Buses stop on the corner every fifteen minutes. It is the best of both worlds. It has the safety and companionship of the expats and the accessibility to stores and the social life of the Mexican community.
Many of the houses in El Parque have views of both the mountains and the lake. I have heard that there are trails going up on the mountain from here. The sunsets from the porch here are spectacular.
Sunset from my porch
There are many beautiful homes in El Parque. Some of them are for rent, for short or long term. I wish I could afford a home here. I would love to use that pool everyday.
Category : Blog
George Zilliax
Feb 03, 2011
What rentals might be available within a very short distance to the pool area for 3 or 4 months from November to March 2012?
Thank You
George
Access Admin
Feb 05, 2011
Hi George,
Not sure if there are any rentals in El Parque. I did however send and email to a rental agent that has tones of rentals. Maybe they have something in El Parque..
Jacques Dorian
Jul 10, 2011
George,
My house (#39) is available for Nov and Dec.
I’ll be there Jan thru Mar…..
$950/month +utilities.
Let me know if you have any interest.
My Maine, USA # is 978-703-0968
Jacques Dorian
Sandra Brown
Sep 15, 2011
I am a retired female teacher who is coming to El Parque wth friends who own a place there. Have been down many times, and love El Parque ! I am arriving in November and staying until end of Feb. Mar. or Apr….. flexible… and could always look for another place to rent after you were to arrive. …..
Let me know if you are interested in talking. Have excellent references… who are your neighbours!
Thanks for your consideration!
Sandra
Scott Harden
Jan 20, 2012
We have a home in El parque available year-round, it was our fathers and unfortunately we are not able to visit regularly. Wonderful area.
allan stephenson
Feb 19, 2012
We are looking for a two bedroom (min) to rent in El Parque for Dec -March of 2013
Is it available?
Paulette Gagne
Mar 11, 2012
Hello Scott,
I recently spent time with friends in El Parque and immediately fell in love. My husband and I will soon both be retired and would be very interested in the availability of a rental with the possibility of looking to the future to purchase a home. You are not by chance the owners of the little white house with blue trim?
No matter, I would love some information. Our friends own #112 on Calle Allen W. Lloyd 149.Their names are Carol and Gary Curtis. They have owned for about 7 years but recently moved there permanently after retiring from education in Vermont. We also live in Vermont and are retiring teachers. Not much $ but want an affordable caring community with interesting and active neighbors. El Parque seems to fit that description.
I will look forward to any further information you can provide at your earliest convenience. I will not be retiring until the end of June and we most likely will not want to rent for more than a month at a time to start, maybe in Dec. or March? My husband is still working part-time at a university so he has less time than I will. We also have a small dog that we travel with, a spaniel/King Charles Cavalier mix.
I look forward to chatting,
Paulette Gagne
Kathleen Van Dinter
Apr 29, 2012
Is your property #49???
Judee and Tom Stalmack
May 22, 2012
Very interested in renting in El Parque for high season (December or January through March. Could come earlier for a longer-term rental if necessary. We stayed in El Parque when it was an RV park, and again–in a lovely casita with friends Jack and Judy Wilson, two or three years ago. Would love to come back.
I have a movie about our last visit to El Parque in my gallery on the internet: http://gallery.me.com/judee1. It will be there until MobileMe is discontinued. I think I will then post it to YouTube.
T. W. Swets
Dec 30, 2012
I may be interested in renting your place in El Parque,are you the Scott Harden of off roading fame?
floyd barnhill
Feb 17, 2013
We have visited Ajijic repeatedly in past five years and are interested in renting a place in El Parque next Jan/Feb and possibly March. Please let me know if you might be interested in renting to us. If so what would be the rental rate. Thank you
Collette
Dec 06, 2011
Hi Jacques ….we are coming in Feb to look for month rental for Oct of this year
El Parque looks like what we are interested in
what access # are we able to look at your house ?
Thank you………….Collette
George Zilliax
Aug 14, 2011
Thank you Jacques for your quick reply could you send a short description of your home?
Number of bedrooms and bath rooms , do you have a mirador ?
Could the rental go from mid Nov to mid Jan?
Thanks
George&Meg
Patti Malone
Aug 18, 2011
Would anyone have a place to rent for one week towards the end of September?
The Access Admin
Aug 18, 2011
There is one listed here on Access:
http://www.accesslakechapala.com/2011/07/28/casa-christiansen/
Cynthia Fendel
Sep 07, 2011
Does anyone in El Parque have small home for a long term rental ?
The Access Admin
Sep 07, 2011
Hi Cynthia, we checked the listing we have here on access and only found one. The Access ID is 16158
Sinead Scott
Oct 29, 2011
Hiya,
We are looking to rent a 2 bed property with high speed Internet for approx 4 months from Mid November to Mid March. Would you have anything on your books or could you recomment an agent who might have something similar.
Regards
Sinead
The Access Admin
Oct 29, 2011
Hi Sinead, let me forward you inquiry to a rental agent, they should be able to find something for you.
George Zilliax
Nov 03, 2011
Thank you Jacques for arranging your place for us to rent. We are arriving the night of the 7 th as you know. Will take good care of your special place in this lovely area.
Meg &George
JOY BECKLEY
Dec 11, 2011
Need a rental from JANUARY 15th to FEBRUARY 28th. 2012.Presently at “Birds of Paradise”.
Will take excellent care of place & have refences . Thanks! JOY
Stella Lake
Dec 20, 2011
We are interested in a rental in El Parque for Jan to at least Jun: my husband me and my elderly mother. We rented in El Parque before but needed a long term so could not stay. We can get many references in El Parque as to our character.
Stella
allan stephenson
Feb 19, 2012
We are looking for a two bedroom (min) place in El Parque for Dec-March of next year 2012-2013. references etc available.
Kathy Wyatt
Apr 28, 2012
Looking to rent for 2 or 3 months Jan. to April 2013
looking for a 2 bedroom
Kathleen Van Dinter
Apr 29, 2012
My husband and I are seriously looking for a 6 month rental in El Parque beginning (approximately) November, 2013. Please let me know if anyone knows of an upcoming availability. Thanks in advance.
Janice Beacock
May 13, 2012
We too are looking for a 2 bedroom rental in El Parque for next winter Dec thru March 2013. Any available? Thanks
Carol and Gary
Jun 26, 2012
We are selling our El Parque home. If you’re interested let us know. As those who posted here know, it’s a great place to live.
Debbie
Aug 20, 2012
My husband and I recently arrived in Ajijic and are looking preferably in El Parque for long term rental. Are there any available rentals starting Sept. 1st? It would be greatly appreciated to hear a response. Thank you!
Z-Access Admin
Aug 20, 2012
Rentals in El Parque are hard to find during this time. Have you browsed the rental listings on the site to see if there are any available?
LARRY YANCY
Aug 28, 2012
I AM LOOKING FOR A RENTAL IN EL PARQUE FOR NOV AND DEC 2012 IS THERE ANYTHING AVALIBAL FOR THAT TIME.THANKS LARRY
David Warren
Sep 18, 2012
I am looking for a 3 month rental starting mid Jan. I have stayed in the Lake Chapala area last year and have an excellent reference.
Judy Adams
Nov 07, 2012
I am looking for a 2 bedroom rental for Jan – Apr, 2013. I lived in San Antonio last winter & have excellent references.