David Lansley: CHINGON with his friends
By: Ken Morrison AKA Barbie O. - Dec. 1st, 2023
Gay Guide Vallarta's 2023 Winter Print Edition ggv 23.4.
David Lansley was from upstate New York where he’d married and had three kids. In search of adventure, he moved to southern California where he managed cinemas. Here, in the early 80s he met Francisco Ruiz, a handsome energetic boy from the hills of Jalisco.
Love blossomed and in late 80s they moved to Puerto Vallarta and started a small bar on the side streets of Vallarta in 1989: the original Paco Paco named after Paco Ruiz and silent partner Paco Mustk. In 1998, Paco Paco moved to Avenida Ignacio Vallarta. In the early 2000’s it became a famous destination – a phenomena. But that original bar was a little oasis for the emerging gay tourism. David, downstairs bartender, surveying the pool table, serving drinks and making introductions to the post beach crowd. David loved that people, especially gay tourists, were having a good time. He was instrumental in bringing burgeoning gay businesses together. He started the first Gay Guide Vallarta to help promote Vallarta as a gay destination with many options for enjoying the gay vibes of Vallarta. Zona Romantica was not the gay hotspot of today. David left us in 2014 shortly after marrying the love of his life with whom he shared over 30 years. He remained the heart and soul behind PACO PACO and its many satellites (Hotel Descanso del sol, Olas Altas After, and of course Paco’s Paradise – a private clothing optional gay beach accessible only by boat). David had been involved in a motorcycle accident in the 80s that left him often in pain. But his smile was quick and endearing. He liked to make people happy and was quietly instrumental in the development of early gay Vallarta. in creating the Vallarta that we know and love today. Strangers called him Paco thinking he was the other Paco of Paco Paco. But to locals, he was CHINGON, a term of endearment and recognition of being an extraordinarily nice guy.
