Thank you Steven Weingarten
We want to thank Steven for all of his years in service to the Casa Grande Mountain Retreat and the thousands of guests that
History of Casa Grande
In 1912, Miguel Morell purchased La Finca de Santa María de Monte Carmelo, a 5,000-acre farm producing sugar, tobacco, coffee, and cattle. The land stretched to a small town that now lies beneath Lake Caonillas.
In 1947, a hacienda was built using railroad tracks as support beams. Miguel’s son Pedro later took over the farm, living on the property with his wife and three sons. His wife taught local children, while the land supported horses, cattle, and mules. Pedro ran the farm for two decades with as many as 36 farmhands, drying coffee in what is now the parking area.
Pedro eventually sold 107 acres—today’s hotel property—to his longtime butler, Mariano Argüelles. Through a series of trades, the land came to Cesar Toledo in 1971. When Toledo first arrived, the jungle had grown so dense he couldn’t find the house. A local boy pointed the way, saying, “Oh, la casa grande.” The name has remained ever since.
In the mid-1980s, Toledo built guest cabins, a conference building, and a manager’s residence. Casa Grande opened in 1988.
In 1995, guests Steven Weingarten and his wife, Marlene, were encouraged by staff to purchase the hotel. Within six months, they became owners. With no prior hotel experience, Marlene became resident manager while Steven split his time between New York and Puerto Rico, helping grow the property and develop its restaurant.
Casa Grande weathered its first major test in 1998, when Hurricane Georges devastated the valley and forced the hotel to close for nearly two months. Nearly two decades later, Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in 2017, once again leaving Casa Grande in ruins. At age 74, Steven refused to abandon the property and, alongside a small crew, spent three years painstakingly restoring it.
In 2021, during the COVID pandemic, a new chapter began. Jon Vidar—then living in Puerto Rico and focused on personal growth and community-building—was introduced to Casa Grande. When Jon and Steven met, they formed a strong bond rooted in shared values and a commitment to preserving the spirit of the place. Together, they ensured Casa Grande would continue.
Today, Jon carries forward that stewardship, honoring Casa Grande as a place for reflection, connection, and restoration—where nature, community, and intentional living come together. He envisions a retreat where practitioners can gather and guests can step away from the pace of city life.
Originally opened as part of Puerto Rico’s parador program, Casa Grande has evolved through several names, finally becoming Casa Grande Mountain Retreat in 2002—a name that reflects both its setting and purpose. More than a century after the land’s first chapter began, we are honored to welcome you into its next.
