All about El Pinar in Mérida, Mexico

The golden age for Mérida began around 1875 with the so-called sisal boom. With the fortunes made from the henequen plantations, owners started building magnificiant houses, using European design, furniture and materials.

The most impressive and well-known buildings are located on Paseo de Montejo . But you will also find some gems elsewhere, such as the spectacular El Pinar (The Pine Grove) residence on Calle 60.

El Pinar is undoubtedly one of the flagship mansions from the golden years in Mérida. It is a mansion over 100 years old in the historic center of the city on Calle 60. The architectural style was modeled on the French Renaissance and the veranda is framed by Ionic columned arches.

The plot is over 5000 square meters, the constructed area is 1,940 square meters. There are 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms on three floors in the main house. The additional guest house has a further 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms on two floors.

In addition to a reception hall, living room and dining room, the main house also houses a library, a bar and a wine cellar. But behind its pastel pink walls and fairy-tale castle appearance, El Pinar also hides a troubled story of Hennequen-era wealth, love, madness and death (see further below).

History of the building

The history of the house is not fully known. On the official website, the year 1915 is given as the year of construction. But according to the "Biblioteca Yucatense" about Mérida's history, the house already existed in 1906 (and belonged to Miguel Peón Casares).

Other sources suggest that the house once belonged to Humberto Perón. What is certain, however, is that Aberto Bulnes Guedea eventually acquired the house and began to restore it. Soon afterwards, he sold it to the Molina family.

It was José Trinidad Molina and his wife who restored the house to its present splendor. All the rooms of the house were furnished in detail according to the European style of the time.

After the restoration, El Pinar was open to the public for some time and tours were conducted. Today there are no regular tours, but the house can be rented for special occasions. A picture gallery and a video with a virtual tour are available on the website of El Pinar.

Love, madness and death

Legend has it that a young Portuguese couple lived in the house in the 1980s. The story began when the woman was bitten by a bat and fell ill with rabies. The medicine of the time failed to help her and she was afflicted with fever and hallucinations.

The desperate husband knew no other way to help himself than to lock his wife in one of the rooms of the house and left her to her fate.

For a long time the woman's cries of pain could be heard until she finally died. The man then left the house and also Mérida and no one ever heard from him again. After it, El Pinar was abandoned for decades, always arousing the curiosity of passers-by.