Casco Viejo is the historic district and cultural gem of Panama City. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997, Casco Viejo was established around 1673 by the Spanish colonialists, the Catholic Church, and other settlers. Historically one of the richest and most densely populated neighborhoods in the Americas, Casco Viejo went on to experience decades of neglect around the 1950s until recent years when restoration builders in Casco Viejo Panama began to assume this historical challenge.
Club Union in Casco Viejo Panama
Once the playground for Manuel Noriega and the Panamanian elite, this amazing structure fell into disrepair in recent years thanks to neglect and a military invasion. The Club Union was Panama’s most exclusive social club when it opened.
For many decades the Union Club was the most exclusive and elegant social club in Panama City. It was famous for its banquets, lavish formal balls and other activities for the most affluent members of the Panamanian society.
But as the years weathered on, the rich and famous became bored of Casco Viejo; they moving on to other neighborhoods, such as Marbella and El Cangrejo, leaving Club Union to the emerging military regime. Union Club became known as the Club de Clases y Tropas and General Manuel Noriega often used the club to throw parties for generals and his friends. It became the playground for the military elite.
The ruins of the building have been used as the backdrop in films like James Bond of Quantum of Solace, and The Tailor of Panama, and most recently became the best spot for rave style outdoor parties.
Restoration builders in Casco Viejo Panama, a historical work
Today, the old Union Club Panama is quite unimpressive. All that remains is the bare bones; cement pillars hold up flimsy walls, while vegetation and rubble have overtaken the compound. As a result, travelers visiting Casco Viejo often pass by this building without knowing the immense historical significance that it once held.
New five-star hotel
The building, which dates back to 1917, will make way for a five-star Panama hotel, a project led by New York hotelier, Paul Stallings. This new restoration in Casco Viejo Panama began with the demolition of the old swimming pool and recreation area, replacing it with dirt.
For more information about restoration builders in Casco Viejo Panama contact us.