Club Habana

Cuba / Ciudad de la Habana / Havanna /
 marina, resort, country club, private members' club
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A private club offering a yacht basin, golf course, tennis, bowling, baseball diamond, basketball court, swimming (beach and pool), fine dining, bar. Originally the Havana Biltmore Yacht and Country Club. Frequented by the famous and elite of Havana prior to the Castro revolution and then became government-owned and opened to the public.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   23°5'28"N   82°28'38"W

Comments

  • Club is not open to the public. Has been converted into an exclusive club for foreigners only.
  • I use to live right next to it. It would appear that golf course has not been maintained tennis courts have been added.
  • I was a teen age member of the club before the communist regime took over, was a great place with a sandy beach, olympic swimming pool, boat house and salt water laguna, tennis courts, baseball and softball diamonds, basketball court and various bowling lanes. Had great restaurant and a cafeteria and a very modern bar. Had great rowing teams and played all sports on inter-club conference. great parties were given for various different occasion. It was a great place.
  • We were members of the HBYCC ,i spent the happiest days of my teenage years there, now it is taken by the communists,(imbeciles, malditos, ojala acaben pronto).I l ft Cuba 49 yrs ago, but what beautiful memories i have from the 50s.
  • I would love to visit my homeland.I left in 1959 at age 5 with my parents, grandparents, sister, and two brothers. My father died shortly after in the USA. My mother rarely speaks of Cuba. I realize now why.It simply hurts her too much to remember. She would speak of the yacht club occasionally. As a matter of fact she went into labor with my twin sister and I at the club in july of 1954! Anyway I was just browsing the internet for photos of the club and my home. I hope one day to return forever.
  • I spent my childhood and learned to swim at the Biltmore where my father Luis Rene swam and rowed competively for the club, and my grandfather Luis Emilio was one of the founding members. I had the good fortune to return to Cuba and enjoy the Havana Biltmore as a young adult from 1958 until Jan 4, 1961. God do I miss Cuba and the Biltmore! I can't wait for those bastards to leave so I can go for a visit. Luis Oscar Rivas
  • I remember swimming at the beach and pool. I left in 1961 at age five. The heart and soul of the Cuba of those days was killed by the commie s.o.b.s and all that remains are the buildings and landscape. It will never be what it was - not after their ROBOlucion. May the castro brothers burn eternally in hell!
  • Amen!
  • For some of us that had the fortune to have been part of the Biltmore the feelings we had as children and adolescents have indeed transcended time and space. We have lost not only our country, family, friends and most important the innocence of children. The same children's that frolic in la playa and watchd the Americans in the casitas, the Biltmore may have changed but to us it will always be la playa.
  • My family joined the Biltmore in the 1950's and I used to swim in the swimming team of the club. After the swimming lessons I would go to the cafeteria and have a croqueta in the galleta with lemon. All my memories which are fantastic occured in this club. I used to swim all year round and would buy my snorkeling equipment at Casa Vasallo near my house in Miramar. I had to have the right equipment like the one used by Mike Nelson of Sea Hunt( Lloyd Bridges series) but the reality I got most of the stuff french made from Jacques Costeau. I would snorkel alone in the bay of the club which had a massive rock in the middle of the beach with my pressure depth watch it measured about 16' deep if I remember. One day a lobster put the fear of god in me by jumping out ot the hole in the rock right at my face, that was scary as hell for my age. Again as regretable as it is these days will not ever replicated since the communist regime took over Cuba. As far as I am concerned and now being 65 years old I would not mind shooting all the bastards that put the murderous communist in power. At least I still have my memories that somehow keep me rooted to my childhood and a different time whne all the family lived near by, laughed and feasted together. A far different existence that the one in the US which abused people with accents and in particular latinos from that time period.
  • We should have a reunion of all the children who lived and played at the Havana Biltmore, founding members grandchildren? Thoughts??
  • Such pleasant memories from my infancy to a whopping nearly eight years of age in 1959 when we would be back-and-forth between the US and Cuba. Such wonderful people and families. We lived out in Flores and the drive into town was always nice for errands and other tasks. Lots of nice places, shops, and of course the people....., great food which my mother especially swooned over since she was a third generation Minnesotan and had never broken away from her Iron Range trappings heretofore. Cuba was a blessing. Many times at the facility for lunches, more often dinners with our parents and everyone else groomed to the hilt and on best behavior. Sometimes we'd be there for swimming or beach activities. As I said I was almost eight when the Bolshevik burned rice hit the fan and as I tell people as tocsin to what is happening in the USA today, in spite of being so young I do not remember.............. as much as I can never forget. I remember all the beauty, smiles and kindness that was essentially manifold, but what happened when that ended I can only imagine. We were fortunate, we were Americans who could leave. Hope anyone whom I ever knew, met, saw......., whom our family ever came in contact with has had a good post Cuba life. Ave atque vale...............
  • My family lived near the Biltmore from 1955 until 9/1960 and we spent many hours there. I rode horses in the stable there and we lived on a street where there were 3 embassy residences (Dominican, British and Canadian). I would be very interested in the slides your husband took.
  • My family spent 1955 until April 1960 in Havana and belonged to the Club. It was a wonderful and safe club where parents would drop the kids off in the morning and pick them up at night. Now that I am 67, I plan to return for my 70th. I have very fond memories of the wonderful Cuban people.
  • I believe my family (grandparents and father!) were members of the club at the same sort of time - 1957 to 1960. They were the Wilson family from the US military (parents Marjorie and James and their son (my father) Dana, and his sister Seretta. Would love to connect with anyone who might have memories or photos of the place and people!
  • My grandparents were among the first members of the Club back in the late 1920’s, originally they belonged to the Havana Yacht. We all had to leave between 59-61, I had just been born but I have traveled back to Havana many times in the past few years, we managed to purchase one of our former homes in the old Country Club area, now called Cubanacan, from the people that the government gave it to when we left, it is a very large house and the restoration will take some time. The Biltmore Yacht and Country has been restored recently, they renamed it The Club Habana and it is once again private but with a different twist, mostly for businessmen but it looks great and still offers many amenities. I will most likely get a membership when my house is finished; I plan to live in Havana part of the year (if everything goes well).
  • How was it possible to buy your house from people the govt gave it to. Didn't think that could be done. Especially not returning Cubans.
  • It is rather complicated but it can be done if the party which occupies the house or the government, if the home has never been allocated to anyone, are willing, the government sets the price. Real estate ownership is part of the new capitalistic reforms, the government has relinquished ownership of most residential properties, whoever occupies them are now the owners and are allowed to sell. The property must be purchased by a Cuban citizen or resident; under the new constitution those who left Cuba between 1959 and 1971 are now allowed dual citizenship. I reside part of the year in Spain and have bank accounts there which simplify monetary matters. Some Americans and other foreigners can also purchase or rent a property if they have a business certified in Cuba and apply for residency. There are several variations and exceptions, it depends on your connections and why you want to establish residency there, also some properties in parts of Havana and other places in Cuba are specifically designated for foreign buyers. The purchase of real estate is restricted to two properties per person now but I think that these laws will be more relaxed in the next 2 or 3 years.
  • Stephanie, I knew your family very well. Your Aunt Serretta was my best friend. We went to Rouston Academy together. I have many many family stories. My email is jm.paschke@verizon.net.
  • Google Havana Biltmore Yatch and Country Club and it will appear a facebook link with pics of the club. Old Cubans commenting about it. Good luck.
  • My name is Juan Badell, my family was members in the Biltmore Yacht club circa 1950, my brother Jose "Pepon" was in the swimming team. Does anyone have any info. about the swimming team of that era. His grandson is now a high school champion swimmer and if I could I would love to give him any info available about his grandfather. Thank you
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This article was last modified 9 years ago