JayB Posted June 12, 2005 Share Posted June 12, 2005 This is clearly old news, but I had no idea. I was actually pondering staying at the Rancho Cerro Gordo in September, but now I'll have to reconsider. Anyone hear how this saga ended? "There are four other places to stay: Homeros, La Pagoda, La Posada and Checkos.... please read the following and send to everyone you know! Thank you for the last four years of energy, support and all the new friends we made in Mexico. Also I'm sorry for the mass mailed letter, but I need to email about 300 people today and tell our story.... We have had many problems with Mel, his sister Suzy and her husband Valentin (rcg taxi guy) over the years. They make deals with us in front of witnesses and then reneg. They have committed many acts of fraud against us and stolen the rancho. Here's the quick version: (The whole story will be on our website later). We were in Austin the last three weeks working to go on tour and raise money for the Access Fund again. We left the rancho thinking all was well. We were ready to return and build our house and raise a family in Hidalgo. We returned to our land with barbed wire on it and not the dimensions that I bought and later was to be added ('Cause of the deal we made, the money I put into fixing his house he was going to give me more land). Then Mel comes up and we ask what's up? What happened to our deal? He says what deal? We say the deal we made, fixed up your house for more land. He says no he paid for the fix up it's his house, his Rancho, his business, his casitas and get the fuck off his land! At which that point he shows us the pistol in his pocket and says pack your shit and leave. Suzy and him return an hour later and threaten us again to leave by 10pm! The 12 people at the campground are shocked and come to our aid and we move all our stuff to Emilio's in two hours! Then we return to the rancho to drop off our friends and drink beers and have our last campfire together! Mel arrives at 10pm with the police and says we stole his stove, refridgerator, boiler and water pump from the round house! We/I bought that frig 5 years ago while living at Homeros. My mom bought that stove for our Xmas present and the boiler and pump I bought. He says we stole $5000 from deposito and that the cops are coming back to put us in jail! Well, we were in Austin and Mel and Tomas said Mel collected the money and that was about $1200 and that it is at Mel's house! The next day we leave for Monterey, get a paper that says he can't put us in jail and then talk with the US consulate and the best lawyer in all of Mexico. This woman makes Johnny Cochran look small time! Anyway, we are fighting these accusations and taking him to court. They have been planning this for at least three years and have committed many acts of federal fraud. The first one being he has no papers for the whole rancho, that is Federal land and you are not allowed to sell it! He has threatened ours and Tomas' life; Mel, Val and Suzy will go to jail! More info will come later. Please do not go to the rancho! Don't get in a taxi driven by Suzy, Valentin, Suzy Jr. or Valentin Jr.!!!! Please tell everyone you know (this story)! We still love Mexico, believe it or not! We have a lot of friends here and many are coming to our aid right now. I still have a place in my heart for the Potrero and will return someday soon to be a climber and bolt again!!!!! Thank you for all the support and your energy and friendship over the years...... Kurt and Elaina KURT SMITH RANCHO CERRO GORDO www.potrerochico.com mexigeneral@hotmail.com 512-695-7181" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billcoe Posted June 12, 2005 Share Posted June 12, 2005 isn't this like 2 year old news? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billygoat Posted June 12, 2005 Share Posted June 12, 2005 So this is still going on or what? Sounds like people are still climbing there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texplorer Posted June 12, 2005 Share Posted June 12, 2005 From what I know Kurt and Elena don't really have any legal rights as they are not mexican citizens and they if Mel says to get off his land they have to even if they pretty much built the place and all. There is still Homero's (the original campground) and several other places to stay down there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EWolfe Posted June 12, 2005 Share Posted June 12, 2005 My ex-wife and I were 2 of the 12 people at the ranch at the time and helped them move. It sucks that they kicked Kurt and Elena off the ranch, but there is more to the story. At the time, Kurt was building casitas for people to stay in, and part of the original deal was that he was to have a tent-camping only setup, so as not to compete with the other brothers existing set-up. Not a good move, especially considering that since it is in fact federal land, he could stake no right to any claims on the land. Also, his agreement was not written, also not a good move, leaving him little recompense. Kurt has a swagger that could easily rub the locals the wrong way, and the situation between the brothers and him was marginal at best. It seems that he made assumptions about the "american" way of doing things that didn't necessarily reflect the attitude of the local people. Plus, being a hot-headed gringo exacerbated the situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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