Tag: barra de potosi beach rentals

Hacienda La Rusa comes with a little story. Back in … 19XX it was a small inn run by a local mexican family.

One day back in 2000 in search of a guaranteed sunshine, a famous New Yorker, a world known fashion designer Betsey Johnson went to Zihuatanejo, Mexico, after three days of freezing cold and rain in Miami.

“…I was staying at the glamorous Mexican resort La Casa Que Canta but I decided I just can’t do hotels any more..” she says.

“…I go to these la-di-da perfect places and end up hanging out with plastic surgeons and dentists and their wives by the pool…”

said Betsey Johnson to New York Times.

One afternoon she drove to the little fishing village of Barra de Potosi for lunch and fell in love and felt at home. A few days later she was the proud owner of a little hotel with five vacation rental houses with hatch–roofs and two pools on Playa Blanca.

“…I always knew I’d have my own place on the beach with guaranteed sun and happy people around me…” stated Johnson in interviews.

Decorating was such a trip, that she decided more people have to see it. In two years, Betseyville became bed and breakfast and was available for rent for $5,500 to $8,500 a week, staff included. A number of celebrities and famous people came to visit. Steven Tayler, the frontman of Aerosmith, spent a few days peacefully at this Paradise, not bothered by paparazzi and fans, David N. Dinkins, the former Mayor of New York, visit this picturesque and very private spot with his family, Steve Madden the founder of a footwear company that bears his name, designers from New York Jill Stuart, Karl Kani and the list can continue … were in Love with Betseyville (Hacienda La Rusa) and with zen and tranquility Barra de Potosi offered.

in 2013, during Manuel, the Mexican storm of the century, Stasya Briggs, another adventurous young woman, drove to Barra de Potosi, fell in love with this magical place and 3 hours later ladies shook hands .

Betseyville got a new life, new owner and a new name Hacienda La Rusa.
Stasya aka La Rusa , the new owner of Hacienda La Rusa, worked hard on creating a magical fairytale in the middle of a small beach side fishing village famous for its salt water lagoon.

Unique is the word for every room and every house in this hotel! A combination of “Betsey’s delightful, bright and whimsical” and “Stasya’s classical, european and colonial” make this place special and unique. European chandeliers, giant mirrors, antique dressers, mexican pottery, colors, artwork by artists around the globe and old fashion hospitality create an atmosphere of warmth, peace and tranquility.

Playa Blanca –  the beach is a stone throw away. During the low season when the village is quiet, you will fall asleep to the sound of roaring waves. During the holidays, every day in the village is a fiesta, parties and music.

Wander the sands, swim, snorkel, hike the jungle or sit back next to the pool with a delicious margarita La Rusa and listen to the birds. Barra de Potosi is so close to Zihuatanejo and hundreds of years behind with its wonders of nature: dolphins and whales, frigatebirds, osprey, turtles and exotic vegetation play against that limpid lagoon, those marble sands and the sunsets of ruby and gold !

Betsey Johnson still comes to visit Betseyville, oops, Hacienda la Rusa , her favorite room is Bungalow Betsey , she says she wants to come to Mexico more often this is where her soul heals, but in the mean time, she is  getting new collection ready, thinking of new ideas for her own fashion show and competing on popular TV show Dancing with the Stars!

Hacienda La Rusa became a success from the day one and was booked for the first season.
The property’s purpose started to alter when Stasya and Mike rescued abandoned newly born kittens,
that was the beginning of a rescue and spray and neuter project – Amigos de Animales.

Hacienda La Rusa is a great place to stay for all Earth and animal loving people, The rhythms of our bed and breakfast revolve around peace, zen, happiness and … green practices: recycling, using renewable resources as much as possible, minimizing our environmental impact in every decision we make, supporting and interacting with the local community,  and sharing the knowledge
and benefits of this lifestyle with our staff and guests.