Ramon’s Village Resort “Beauty From Ashes” – Staff Observes One Year Anniversary of Devastating Fire
A year ago on Wednesday, August 27, 2014, the worst disaster to ever strike Ramon’s Village Resort in San Pedro, Belize occurred with a massive fire destroying 28 cabanas, Pineapples Restaurant, the Purple Parrot, Ramon’s Gift Shop and the general offices, laundry and warehouse at the resort. Valiant firefighting efforts by the San Pedro Fire Department, San Pedro Police Department, citizens of San Pedro and the employees of Ramon’s Village saved the resort from being a total loss.
A year later any trace of a fire has been completely erased and the iconic resort is flourishing with guests. The owners of Ramon’s Village, Richard and Gina Headrick, along with Director of Operations Steve Sherwin, arrived at the still smoldering ruins of the resort on August 29, 2013. It was on the beach that day that a determined Richard Headrick told the assembled group of despondent employees that Ramon’s Village would be built back bigger and better than ever before. Over the course of the next 101 days, hundreds of San Pedro craftsmen joined with the employees at Ramon’s Village to transform the scene of a disaster back into a lush tropical oasis.
“The fire was a defining event, not only for Gina and I, but for everyone who had visited Ramon’s over the years and fell in love with our resort and our fabulous employees,” notes owner Richard Headrick. He adds, “The rebuilding of Ramon’s Village was a monumental task that was accomplished in record time and with an enthusiasm level by contractors and employees alike that I have not experienced before in my lifetime. We thank God and give Him credit for making possible the miracle that occurred in the rebuilding process.”
Steve Sherwin, Director of Operations for Ramon’s Village, notes “We encourage all of our past guests and those people who have considered visiting Ramon’s to come see what Ramon’s Village is all about. We still owe a huge debt of gratitude to those in the San Pedro community who supported the resort and our employees during the fire and the subsequent rebuilding effort. We shall forever be grateful to them for the love that was shown to us and for helping us recover from what seemed to be an insufferable loss.”
Employees at Ramon’s Village met on Wednesday, August 27, 2014, at 8:00 AM for a remembrance service and time of prayer conducted by Roberto “Chief” Sabido who works at Pineapples and is the Hellfighters Foot Soldiers – San Pedro unit leader. Ramon Nunez, the legendary host of Ramon’s Village Resort, summed up the feelings of all of the employees at Ramon’s, “We cannot say thanks enough to all of our guests who called, emailed or stopped in to check on us after the fire. We love our guests and consider them family. Of all of the compliments the resort receives, the most common one is – the staff at Ramon’s Village is what keeps bringing us back time and time again!”