Casa de Campo’s Golden Year
Casa de Campo is more than a resort—it’s a world unto itself, where sun-soaked days yield moonlit nights, and every visit weaves itself into a lasting tradition. For 50 years, this iconic Caribbean retreat has welcomed back its loyal guests, lured by the promise of new memories with every return. Spanning 7,000 acres in La Romana, Dominican Republic, this sprawling community is likened to a playground for the international elite, offering endless opportunities for adventure and relaxation, with guests casually navigating its vast grounds on foot and by golf cart. From the challenge of three world-class golf courses to the newly opened spa, Casa de Campo expands into horseback trails, polo fields, tennis and racquet centers, pristine white-sand beaches, and its own tournament grade sporting clays and bird shooting center. Truly, there’s something for everyone.
Minitas Beach
Yet what sets Casa de Campo apart is its unique energy: inviting, refreshingly unpretentious, and always alive with a vibrant mix of guests. True to its name (Spanish for “Country House”) the resort is welcoming from the moment you arrive. International dignitaries and boldface fashion designers mingle with familiar faces who return each season, creating a warm, friendly atmosphere that feels like home. And it really can be your home, with a private country club and villas just inside its gated entrance, home owners safely enjoy exclusive perks and access to the resort’s unlimited amenities. As Casa de Campo celebrates its 50th anniversary, we look back at the history of this beloved getaway—a resort that, for five decades, has mastered the art of gracious hospitality.
The vision for Casa de Campo hatched in the early 1960s, when Alvaro Carta arrived in La Romana with an ambition to transform a Gulf + Western sugar mill into an audacious dream. He enlisted legendary Pete Dye, the fabled golf course designer, to help shape the vision. It took more than 300 local craftsmen to bring Dye’s ambitious design to life, hand-carving the rugged landscape into the “Teeth of the Dog,” a breathtaking links course along the Caribbean coast that owes its name to the sharp coral formations nicknamed “diente de perro,” or “dog’s teeth,” cementing Casa de Campo’s reputation on the global golf stage.
Arnold Palmer on the 15th hole tee-box on
Teeth of the Dog, 1974.
But despite the success of “The Teeth,” the resort still floundered... until 1984, when Cuban-born brothers Alfonso and J. Pepe Fanjul, world leaders in sugar production and refinery, acquired the Gulf + Western sugar mills and took Casa de Campo under their tasteful and expansive minded control. The Fanjul Family quickly opened the resort to a more sophisticated audience as they embraced “growth and expansion” as the cornerstones of Casa de Campo’s future.
Spanish King Juan Carlos at the inauguration of the boulevard which now bears his name at Casa de Campo with then Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina, Alfonso Fanjul, and J. Pepe Fanjul, 2015.
Under the Fanjuls’ leadership, the burgeoning developments at Casa de Campo were matched by its enhanced reputation as an international resort.Included in this surge of expansion was a professional equestrian center, several new polo fields, and a world-class sporting clays and bird shooting facility. In 1990, the La Romana Country Club was opened, and the Mediterranean-inspired Marina earned recognition as a unique international port of call, by far the best superyacht port in the Caribbean. In 1995, American Airlines had launched weekly service from Miami, with Boeing 727s landing at Casa de Campo’s original airport, where the tarmac and landing strip ran just yards from the Teeth of the Dog. “It was amazing to be on the tee-box of No. 12 and see a 727 coming right at you,” longtime golf director Gilles Gagnon recalled, describing the scene as a unique spectacle that became near folklore, drawing curious guests and golfers alike!
American Airlines flight on Casa de Campo’s original runway.
In the early 2000s, Casa de Campo unveiled Dye Fore, a third course designed by Pete Dye, offering sweeping views high above the Chavón River. A $40 million renovation followed in 2004, setting the stage for the modernization of the popular Minitas Beach Club and the recent addition of the exclusive Premier Club & Suites—where guests enjoy heightened service amenities including a separate concierge, as well as access to the new 18,000-square-foot Spa & Wellness Center. Casa de Campo continues to attract elite events and boldfaced guests. Both President George Bushes were regulars, and King Juan Carlos I of Spain, a personal friend of the Fanjuls, attended the inauguration of a boulevard named in his honor in 2015. And the ubiquitous Martha Stewart shot her Sports Illustrated “Swimsuit” cover at Casa de Campo in 2023.
Treatment room inside the new Spa & Wellness Center.
Premier Suite
Pepe Fanjul, Jr., now president of the resort, has seamlessly secured the family’s next generation by continuing its legacy, having been part of Casa de Campo’s journey since arriving with his father 40 years ago. For Pepe, Jr., the resort is more than its breathtaking vistas and natural beauty; it holds cherished memories of instant friendships and a deep sense of belonging. Casa de Campo has always been woven into his life—witnessing his uncle and father shape its path has given the multigenerational business an even deeper meaning for him.
Casa de Campo is dedicated to preserving its traditions while continuously expanding its services and operations - always keeping the existing facilities and experiences fresh and exciting. This commitment was on full display in October, when the resort celebrated its 50th anniversary with a spectacular weekend of events and activities. The festivities included two back-to-back concerts at the amphitheater, a beachside party with fireworks and a drone show, and a $50,000 hole-in-one golf competition.
50th anniversary weekend drone show.
The celebrations are set to continue, with Grammy Award-winner Carlos Vives performing on December 7th. Not coincidentally, the anniversary celebrations are opening a new era of accessibility for international guests, as American Airlines launches daily direct flights between Miami and La Romana Airport (LRM)—a fitting full-circle moment for a destination that has defined Caribbean luxury for a half-century.
Taylor Dayne performs during the 50th anniversary concert.