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Olivier Lange, the son of a French Ambassador, did not pursue the life in which his father had intended. He possessed a passion for creating and a love for the sea and could not visualize himself in an office setting.
With the help of a friend, Olivier Lange at the very young age of 19 opened the first Whiskey-A-Go-Go in Morocco. This did indeed turn out to be a very successful enterprise and he felt that he found the creative outlet he was looking for. His father, on the other hand, was dismayed by this business venture and sent him to serve in the army in hopes of reform.
Upon release from the army, he was undaunted by his father's reprimands and proceeded to create various night clubs and restaurants in Morocco and in France. Moreover, he eventually gained his father's respect and admiration as an astute businessman who did not compromise his principles.
His love affair with the sea had not diminished over the years. Sailing had always been one of his life's greatest pleasures and in 1978 he purchased a 50' Gulfstar in Florida and sailed it to the Caribbean. Upon arrival to the island of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten, he ventured into the then alluded to "dangerous" channel of Oyster Pond. As he entered the lagoon, he was enchanted by the beauty and tranquility of the perfectly quiet anchorage, and his creative juices began to flow. He envisioned a waterfront restaurant and small marina where he could spend his winters.
He endured a great amount of ridicule for his idea of developing such an "out of the way" place with no electricity, telephone or water, and no roads to speak of. Despite the obstacles he had to overcome he was not deterred. He was determined to realize his dream.
His earliest endeavor was to place channel markers to guide boats through the challenging passage as many before had tried to do but failed. This was the first of many undertakings in opening up Oyster Pond to the tourist market.
As time passed his love of the sea enticed him to sell his then popular restaurant in Paris, "Le Mors aux Dents," to invest further into his Caribbean undertaking. His first vision of a restaurant and a small marina became reality and is now the heart of his hotel complex.
Olivier Lange has conceived a property with such novel features as a glass-sided swimming pool, a mini-zoo, a natural aquarium with sharks and turtles, a glass-floored restaurant and more surprises around every corner. The property's location on the French/Dutch border of the island accentuates the uniqueness of the bungalow style hotel which he created to exist in harmony with nature. A serene seaside setting and lush tropical gardens lend their charm to his captivating hideaway.
Today his dedicated efforts have produced a 4-star resort which is undeniably innovative in the Caribbean.
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