All about El Pinar in Mérida, Mexico (2025 Guide)

The golden age for Mérida began around 1875 with the so-called sisal boom. With the fortunes made from the henequen plantations, owners started building magnificiant houses, using European design, furniture and materials.

The most impressive and well-known buildings are located on Paseo de Montejo. But you will also find some gems elsewhere, such as the spectacular El Pinar (The Pine Grove) residence on Calle 60, which I happened to come across one evening by chance.

El Pinar is a true gem among Mérida's historic mansions. This stunning property, over 100 years old, was built between 1898 and 1904, and is located right in the heart of the city on Calle 60.

With its classic architecture and rich history, it stands as a beautiful reminder of Mérida's golden era. But behind its pastel pink walls and fairy-tale castle appearance, El Pinar also hides a troubled story of Hennequen-era wealth, love, madness and death.

Guided Tours

Since 2024, guided tours of El Pinar have been available again upon request. The tours last between 30 minutes to an hour and offer an in-depth look at this iconic mansion.

To ensure your spot, visits are by appointment only, so make sure to contact them via WhatsApp, with the number available on their website.

The entrance fees are tiered, as is common in Mexico:

• $200 MXN per adult

• $100 MXN for children aged 1 to 12

Visits are scheduled at specific times, so it’s best to plan ahead. A tour gives you the chance to dive into its rich history and understand its importance. I definitely recommend it. Honestly, the interior is just as stunning, if not more, than the outside.

Architectural Style

The architecture of El Pinar is inspired by the French Renaissance, with the veranda featuring elegant Ionic columns and arches. The property spans over 5000 square meters, with the built area covering 1,940 square meters.

The main house offers 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms across three floors, while the guest house includes an additional 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms on two floors.

Besides a reception hall, living room, and dining room, the main house also boasts a library, a bar, and a wine cellar.

Imported materials like Carrara marble, red brick, and a French slate roof were used in the construction. The house is home to a collection of 19th-century Tibores de Sèvres, a 17th-century Rocaille mirror, and Murano glass chandeliers from Venice.

History of the Building

The history of El Pinar is not completely clear, but according to the "Biblioteca Yucatense," it was already standing in 1906 and belonged to Miguel Peón Casares.

This aligns with the history shared by the current owners of El Pinar, who confirm that Miguel Peón Casares was both the builder and the original owner, living there since already since 1904.

In 1926, Humberto Peón Suárez took ownership of the house and made it his home for an impressive 48 years. During this time, he made several updates to the property, incorporating Art Deco elements that reflected the design trends of the era.

These additions gave the house a more modern flair, blending the traditional architecture with the elegance and bold lines characteristic of the Art Deco style.

Between 1974 and 1987, the house changed hands twice before finally being acquired by the Molina family, represented by José Trinidad Molina Castellanos.

José Trinidad Molina, a businessman in the shipping and tourism industries, lived there until his death in 2013. Since then, the house has been uninhabited.

It was José Trinidad Molina and his wife who restored the house to its current grandeur, carefully furnishing all the rooms in the European style of the time.

In some years, it was open for tours, then closed again. Since 2022, it has served as a museum and event space, offering a unique venue for exhibitions and gatherings. And since 2024, the house has resumed offering regular tours.

A picture gallery and a video with a virtual tour are available on the website of El Pinar.

The Sisal Boom in Mérida

During the sisal boom in Mérida, which took place in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Mérida experienced a significant economic and cultural shift.

Sisal is a fiber obtained from the agave, specifically from the Agave sisalana. This fiber was traditionally used for making ropes, carpets, and other durable products.

As the demand for sisal grew, wealthy landowners made huge profits, and many used this newfound wealth to build grand houses in the city. Many of the well-preserved colonial homes from this era can be found along Mérida's magnificent Paseo de Montejo.

These homes, constructed around 100 years ago, showcase a mix of architectural influences, particularly from European styles like French and Italian, which were highly fashionable at the time.

Inside, you can often find ornate furniture, elegant tile work, and large open spaces that reflect both local and international design trends of that period. The luxury in these homes reflects the story of Mérida's transformation during this prosperous era.

Love, Madness and Death

Mérida is known for its many ghost stories, and these old houses are perfect settings for such tales. While there’s no specific ghost story tied to El Pinar, it still has a chilling history.

In the 1980s, a young Portuguese couple lived in the house. The tragedy started when the woman was bitten by a bat and contracted rabies. At the time, medical treatments couldn’t help her, and she was soon overwhelmed by fever and hallucinations.

Desperate, her husband saw no other option but to lock her in one of the rooms and leave her to her fate. For a long time, her cries could be heard echoing from the house until she eventually died.

After her death, the husband left both the house and Mérida, never to be heard from again. El Pinar was left abandoned for decades, sparking the curiosity of anyone who passed by.