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Spotlight on the Placencia BTIA - Ranguana Lodge
Ranguana Lodge opened its door in 1989, at that time fly-fishing was big business here in Placencia. Ranguana Lodge opened its doors just catering to fly fishing customers. Most of those clients were from the US. At the time they had five private cabins all names from the game fishes - Tarpon, Permit, Sailfish, Marlin, & Bonefish. After several years of just catering to fly-fishing customers Ranguana’s owner Eddison Leslie, (or Mr. Eddie as he is known in Placencia) decide that it would be best to open its doors to the public and that’s when Ranguana Lodge really started becoming popular. Their guests really enjoyed the beautiful wooden interior and the privacy of having their own little cabin right on the beach in Placencia Village! It was many of the guests’ dreams come true!
In 1998 Mr. Eddie’s daughter Joy started working with her father. She was ready to join into the family business and she saw where her dad needed some help. At the time Joy’s son was only one year old but she figured she could still be a great mom and help her father run the lodge. After all women all over the world are career moms and Joy was certainly capable! Joy received just 1 week’s training and took on the front desk the following week. Joy was up for the challenge and within a few months she brought some new ideas to here dad – ideas that she thought would improve business.
First Joy started with changing a few stuff inside the cabins then change the color of the cabins themselves. Originally they were white with a forest green trim. Joy thought they needed to change the color to something that will catch someone’s eye so it became white with bright orange trim and it really worked!! Loads of people came by and said how much they loved the color! It also encouraged more people to stop in and get information about the cabins in person.
In 2001 Placencia got hit hard by Hurricane Iris and it completely took Ranguana Lodge out of business for at least 4-5 months … It was sad to see the nice wooden cabins destroyed. Three of them were as they would say “totaled” Mr. Eddie, like many who had lost so much, was not sure if opening back Ranguana would have been a good idea, but Joy encouraged him to make a fresh start. They managed to get 5 cabins up and going and it was then that Mr. Eddie handed the running of the business over to Joy completely. She opened Ranguana back up in late February of 2002. The three beachfront cabins were tastefully done in cement and two garden cabins – reminiscent of Ranguana’s original cabins.
With the new cabins came a whole new look. Joy decided some new colors and change the names of the cabins were in order. She wanted people to relate to the colorful flowers and bright tropical fish that they see when they are here in Placencia. She choose white for the cabins but gave each one their own colorful trim – lime green, bright orange, sunshine yellow, hot pink and brilliant purple! The names went from sports fish to fish that someone might see snorkeling - Parrot Fish, Trigger Fish, Angel Fish, Shell Fish and Butterfly Fish. The guests loved it! After that Joy started landscaping the grounds with brightly flowering plants. Recently a barbecue grill and shady palapa have been added for guests and it has been a hit!
Ranguana’s beachfront cabins are equipped with 2 double beds, cable TV, fans, air-conditioning, a microwave, a coffee maker, a toaster, a full size refrigerator, private bath with hot & cold shower and a private balcony with a hammock for relaxing in. The garden cabins were created from the salvaged lumber from the original 5 cabins. These cabins are bigger than the beachfront cabins, and have a more rustic style. They are equipped with 2 double beds, standing and ceiling fans, full kitchen, cable TV, private bath with hot & cold shower and a private balcony with a hammock.
The beach at Ranguana Lodge is truly a view to savor! Top the view off with beach chairs and palapas and it is really a little slice of paradise.
What makes Ranguana Lodge really work is a real combination of its beautiful location, quality service, private cabins, beautiful garden, great long time staff and the fact that Joy is always looking for was to improve her business while keeping there rates affordable.
If you are in the area stop by, Ranguana Lodge can be found right on Placencia’s famous sidewalk, call 501-523-3112, are email ranguana@btl.net.
