The Lake Chapala Rumors Are True

There goes the charm and the neighborhood.Best of luck.

Hi Sid,

I’m wondering what effect this huge facility is going to have on the lake, itself, re: run off, sewage, or any other practice that almost lead to the lakes demise, in past years. The environmental people have worked hard to bring this lake back to what it used to be, and I think that someone/agency should be looking in to getting some answers before we’re left with what they built and the repercussions that could go along with it. I might remind you of the idiosyncricies of Mexican law.

I don’t live in Chapala, yet, but it #1 on my short list for relocation next year. I have mixed emotions. I live in Florida where the native Seminole Indians have established several very successful Casino Resorts. The significant difference between their resorts and the one you describe is that all are owned, operated and run by the tribe. Profits are shared and distributed only to tribal members.

Per your statement a USA corp is going to profit from this enterprise. Sure the resort will create jobs but will the US corp pay a fair wage? Will they distribute profits to the community for infrastructure, schools, hospitals? Will they protect the lake which is a precious asset?

Also, casinos attract prostitutes and drug dealers. Mexico has enough problems with drug lords. Do you want this brought into your community?

Hi Sid,

We would rather not see this coming to the Lakeside area for fear of all the expansion, growth, and everything that comes with it. I don’t think this will prevent people from wanting to move here… look at the huge housing growth in Las Vegas over the past few years. Casinos tend to draw people and expansion overall.

It’s obvious why they would consider building it here, with all the NOB retirees (a staple of casino business) in addition to more middle class Mexicans in Guad with more money to spend on recreational and entertainment activities. I’m thinking Lake Tahoe of Mexico, and it wouldn’t surprise me if additional casino plans aren’t in the wings if this one does well. I’m somewhat surprised that this is the first large casino complex of its kind in all of Mexico… I would have expected something like this to go into existing, highly developed tourist locations first.

I’m not convinced about a huge increase in crime associated with a casino, but can’t be sure. We heard all the same horror story predictions of doom and gloom when there were debates about allowing casinos in the Kansas City area. To satisfy Bible-Belt sensibilities, there were initially all sorts of restrictions placed on casinos built here. Over the years, those have been relaxed and more casinos came in until the area is fairly well saturated. There hasn’t been a big spike in crime related to the casinos, I don’t think, although I’m sure there is some and people with gambling problems are more likely to be tempted due to ease of access.

We’re adopting a wait-and-see approach, and hoping that the majority of traffic and congestion stays between the casino and Guad (unfortunately, that’s not good news for folks in Bristas and Chapala Haciendas). Too soon to tell how this will affect property values in the area. While some will hate the casino and everything it brings, others will flock to the area as a tourist destination because of it. So values and demand for property and existing houses will change… maybe for better, maybe worse. The good news is that it’s apparently going to be a high quality resort project and not a dumpy slum sort of large casino, which would be more likely to draw problems.

One way or another, it’s going to bring some major changes to the area and make for lots of discussion in the coming years!

we are going to build our owne water treatment thanks