Pakostane
Location: Croatia (100 km from Split, near Zadar )
Village type: Huts
Date opened: 1960
Year closed: 2005
For the record: Located in Yugoslavia in the part that is now Croatia, the village opened in 1960 for the Club's 10th anniversary.
Marshal Tito is said to have personally authorized the establishment of Club Med in Pakostane. (This source needs verification but is likely close to the truth.) He respected Gérard Blitz as a member of a resistance movement during World War II.
However, in 1960, foreign companies were prohibited from operating independently in Yugoslavia, so the management of the Pakoštane hotel was entrusted to Zadar Turisthotel. Club Med was considered a tenant.
The arrangement at Sveti Marko was the same.
Jean BALANDJIAN inaugurates Pakostane as the first village chief.
Describing itself at the time as a 'young' village, it is nestled in a vast pine forest on the Adriatic coast.
In its early days, the village was heavily focused on waterskiing and spearfishing. Sailing was introduced in 1962. The village also serves as a starting point for numerous excursions and camping trips.
Until 1991, Pakostane was one of the Club's flagship villages. Closed during the conflict that led to the breakup of Yugoslavia, the village reopened on June 28, 1996, by decision of the Club. The site was relatively unscathed by the war. A few improvements were all that was needed to restore the village to its former glory.
And for this reopening, Jean Pierre BATARD is taking the reins of Pakostane as village chief!!
Attendance is below expectations. The village is no longer full. The Club Med in Pakostane finally closes at the end of the 2005 season (lease expired and was not renewed).
Daniel Radigue will be its last village chief.
Today :
It's very rare to see a former resort still exist today after Club Med leaves. Look at Ipsos, Caprera, Al Hceima, and the list goes on… unfortunately! In 2006, after Club Med's departure, the resort was rebranded as Pine Beach, and today, even though the operator has renovated the resort somewhat, the good old bungalows are still there, and you can still sleep in them.
At heart, Pakostane is still Pakostane.
Here is the link to Pinebeach
Videos
Club Med 1972 Pakostane Source INA
Pakostane 1982, series of photos of the village
Club Med 1963 Pakostane Source INA The Dinosaurs Club – Gérard Pigeon DECOSTERD
Club Med 1960 Pakostane
The Dinosaurs Club – Gérard Pigeon DECOSTERD
Thanks Gérard for your great video testimony about Pakostane, my first holiday village in 1985, with Françoise Gravière as CDV and Gino Andretta (still with the Club) in charge of Activities or Sports, I can't remember.
The best memories of happy and rare moments.
Hugs from a retired GO (64 seasons at the Bourse and La Villette headquarters).
Hello, with François in 1989, Gino (Mini Club Manager), Lionel Kupper (Head of Sports), and me (Water Skiing Manager). Great memories! Thanks for everything
Pakostane 1985, I was there GO voile with Jean Luc Chef de voile, an Italian Chef de sport, and Jean Florance Chef de village… anybody was there?
Former Club Med fan. I had excellent holidays back in the days of the beach huts (I was young), the atmosphere was fantastic…a bit of nostalgia!
I've been to many clubs, about 8 in total. A CLUB MED FAN