Paco: The Legend & The Man
By: Ken Morrison AKA Barbie O.
Published April 1st, 2023
Gay Guide Vallarta's Summer Edition ggv 23.2
FRANCISCO RUIZ was 30 when he landed in Puerto Vallarta with his partner David (see next issue). They’d hooked up in California, came to PV in 1989 to set up the bar PACOPACO in sleepy Puerto Vallarta. The name was to become synonymous with “gay” through the '90s.
At the creative centre was Paco, product of the hills of Jalisco. The small bar of 1989 expanded to a 5-bar complex in the mid-90s. Hotel Descanso del sol, with its famous sunset bar, followed. Olas Altas “after” opened at 6 am when PacoPaco closed. Finally they opened Paco’s Paradise, in a quaint bay to the south, accessible only by boat: a naked-gay nature beach with a bar, restaurant and guest suites. Throughout his life, Paco kept close connections with nature. He gathered sea food for the fish in his famous aquarium. He speared fish to feed to guests and fed the eagle from his hand out at Paradise. He cared about his community; community was family. He cared about justice. Early on, he had his own fights standing up to corruption. In the 90s he was often the one to whom LGBTIQ+ came when they had problems with authorities. He accompanied them to see the mayor or the chief of police. With David, he profoundly loved Puerto Vallarta and worked hard to create a safe gay haven for fun. Then one morning, from Vallarta royalty to poverty, they lost it all. Taken advantage of? Spread too thin? A few years after David died, Paco had a heart attack while playing soccer. At the time he was building a home with his own hands, living with a mélange of animals at the top of a hill in hometown San Juanito de Escobedo, Jalisco. In his short 55 years, he left an indelible print on Vallarta and a huge contribution to gay Vallarta.
¡Viva Paco! ¡ Viva las memorias!
