The initial vision for Palmas Del Mar came from an American real estate developer, Charles Fraser, who developed Hilton Head Island in SC, Amelia Island Plantation in FL, Kiawah Island Resort in SC, and he also consulted for Walt Disney's new town of Celebration, FL. The concept for Palmas was a destination resort and secondary residential community. Esteban Padilla, architect, of Palmas Del Mar is featured in a 1973 Sports Illustrated Magazine edition where a swimsuit model is photographed on our beach. Here is an exert from the article, Speaking is Esteban Padilla, "We do not think of this as a 'development,' " he went on. "We are trying to get away from words like 'development' and into words like 'experiences.' A sequence of experiences. The secret with the automobile is to control the traffic outside, so that pedestrians can mingle unimpeded inside."

He found a place on the map with his index finger, a distant parking area that he said would hold 1,200 cars. "Here," he said, pointing to Cala de Palmas, the harbor village. "No cars allowed. Here [the villa area around the inn- Club Villa!]. No cars. For these you will have to walk or, to travel around, an electric cart will be available. Or a bicycle."

He looked back at his own stricken vehicle.

"The automobile, of course, is the villain. I wish that we could leave all the roads natural, but this is a large area and there has to be accesses and movement and, as you can see, the weather can be rough on dirt roads. We will have to spread some tarmac around. But we are committed to the terrain. A minimum of earth movement. A slope remains a slope. Roads wind. Trees stay."