VOICES THAT BUILD LOS CABOS | People who have helped shape the destination through creativity, community, and long-term vision.
“More than a vacation destination, Club Cascadas de Baja is a living community where time, memory, and genuine care for people become a legacy.”
Reflecting on 40 Years of Club Cascadas de Baja
Since its founding four decades ago, Club Cascadas de Baja Resort has been more than just a vacation development in Cabo San Lucas. It is a project born from the shared dream of Edward “Ed” and Patricia “Pat” Giddings, and passionately continued by their son, Mark Giddings. Today, Mark leads the Club with a vision to honor its family spirit while driving its renewal for future generations.
Under his leadership, the Club has seen remarkable improvements, such as the renovation of palapas, new mosaic tiles in the pools, and detailed maintenance of woodwork, appliances, and landscaping. Mark takes pride in every detail, reflecting his commitment to preserving the Cascadas de Baja experience as a true sanctuary for its members.
In a time when vacation properties have lost ground to other options, Cascadas stands strong as a vibrant, secure, and welcoming community. For Mark, sharing the Club’s accomplishments remains essential to the journey. In this way, the family legacy not only endures — it flourishes.
“When I had the opportunity to move here, I began to see things from a new perspective. For our family, Cabo still holds a special place in our hearts, despite the many changes over the years. We remain deeply connected to the community and are committed to giving back, both to our members and to our staff.”
Mark highlighted the significance of this milestone, emphasizing his family’s accomplishments over the past four decades. He recalled his parents’ vision, which began in the 1970s with the acquisition of the property at Playa El Médano, followed by construction starting in 1985 and the arrival of their first members in 1986.
Mark noted that the entire family has been involved in the project, including his brothers, too. He reflected on the early days of Cabo San Lucas, describing it as a destination without timeshares or club memberships, primarily attracting fishermen. The club’s opening saw families purchasing memberships and sharing the experience with relatives and friends. The sales department played a crucial role in building the membership base.
There was initial uncertainty from the traditional hospitality industry about the emergent timeshare industry, but it eventually recognised its benefits, prompting other major developers in Mexico to follow suit.
For Mark and his family, being part of Cabo San Lucas and its vibrant community is an honour. They are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of tourism and to support residents through new developments. Mark considers it a privilege to represent Club Cascadas de Baja members and staff.
“See that you put too much love, energy, and investment into your property to keep it up to the standards that the guests are expecting for the visitors. Well, that’s an important part, and I think it will always align with my mom and Dad’s whole philosophy. My Dad passed away in 1993, so he’s been gone a long time.
My mom is still with us at 96, and she has always been the matriarch of the family business. Her philosophy has always been to treat both the members and staff like family. This approach has guided the ongoing evolution of the Club Cascadas de Baja. While times have changed both globally and in Cabo San Lucas, that core philosophy has remained constant.”
Commitment to Staff and Community Mark proudly mentioned that some staff members have been with the club for 34 to 35 years, with an average tenure of 20 to 25 years. He believes this longevity is a testament to their successful employee retention and support for advancement within the business, allowing staff to send their children to university.
He highlighted that this has fostered a positive, supportive environment for members and staff alike.
“If you needed directions somewhere, somebody who lived here in Cabo would say, ‘Yeah, just two blocks down here, one over there.’ The community in Cabo San Lucas was very kind and friendly. The people here were great, and they still are. And my experience was just this small town, at the land’s end of the peninsula. I’ve been driving up and down the Baja California Sur for years before moving down here in 1985 to fish, to surf, and to hang out with my high school friends.”
