It is with a heavy heart that I share that La Cruz has lost yet another local icon with the passing of (Tequila) Dudley Douglas on September 8th, 2022. He passed away in his beloved home in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit, Mexico. RIP Dudley, you always made me smile, I will miss you.
This is an article I wrote four years ago.
Tequila Dudley creates art from wood, stone and more.
Learning and writing about those who make up La Cruz is a gift I covet. Although I’ve known him for years it was a delight to sit with and learn more about Dudley Douglas. In 1967 Dudley came to Mexico to surf. His mission in life was to surf and work became a means to an end… that always included surfing! He’s been an insurance agent, worked in construction and was a commercial abalone diver. Initially, he just passed thru Vallarta on his way to Matachen Bay, near San Blas for the great surfing there. Another surfing adventure took him to Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca. He also camped on the beach of Punta de Mita and surfed there.
Originally from Santa Barbara, California he spends ‘his other time’ on the California/Oregon border. That’s where the story begins of life in La Cruz; his neighbouring friends asked him to be their tour guide to Puerto Vallarta and he agreed. Eager to get them out of the city, Dudley was taking them on an excursion to Punta de Mita when they saw signs for a development project in La Cruz. They decided to check it out and his friends bought. Dudley helped them settle all the details and even met their first renters as his friends couldn’t make it down.
That was about twenty-five years ago and Dudley has been visiting every year since. A helper by nature, between surfing and his carving and painting projects Dudley has helped others with construction projects. When his son was young he could only visit for two months or so a year. Now as a ‘seasonal resident’ he’s loved his six months a year here for decades now. Recently he bought a plot of land and built himself a home and studio where he plans to supplement his retirement funds creating and selling art.
Dudley’s carving all began when he watched a man with a chainsaw create a tobacco store Indian in Oregon. He says he was flat broke but was so inspired he got a job to pay for a chain saw, grinders and carving tools and his career began. He says “This was the perfect job to support my surfing lifestyle”. Dudley told me “When carving I work from the outside in taking off ‘just the right amount’. When I create sculpture I work from the inside out adding ‘just the right amount’.
Dudley’s ‘larger than life’ La Cruz creations include a Jesus Christ monument he carved that resides next to the Alamar development; across from Playa Manzanilla and a grand Buddha that lives in a friend’s garden and is looking for a home. He does smaller driftwood carvings and he’s created pieces every size between. He creates in wood, stone and concrete. Folks who appreciate his style commission many of his pieces and the rest are ‘just what he wants to do’. Painting has become a more recent passion preferring painting ladies, nudes and abstracts.
You can find some of Dudley’s pieces for display and sale at The Black Forest restaurant and at the Octopus Garden in La Cruz.
One of his most recent gifts to the community is in honour of Philo; it’s a replica of Philo’s guitar that he created so kids could rock and roll into the future! Initially Dudley thought it would be nice in the plaza but was convinced that placing it on the boardwalk of the Marina was a better choice as that is near where Philo first anchored when he sailed into La Cruz.
Mexican friends gave Dudley his nickname ‘Tequila’ during a drinking contest when they were surprised he could drink as much tequila or more as them. Lucky to experience La Cruz as it was before it grew Dudley told me he still loves the beautiful people; all who work so hard, singing, happy and “good with what they have” delights him. He says the Marina seemed to bring an extra pride to the community, folks cleaned up the plaza and it seems like all is going smoothly for most.
Dudley gives to as many causes-in-need as he can. He’s given carvings to be auctioned and created doors for local schools. He does what he can, when he can for those he can. His favourite places to dine in La Cruz are Buzzo’s, Black Forest, Tacos Junior, Tacos on the Street, Red Chairs and the La Cruz Inn. He loves to BBQ, especially teriyaki.
His belief is that La Cruz isn’t for everyone. Dudley says, “La Cruz is for those special people who are into art and music and who are nice… who get it.”
What’s he most proud of is that he’s still living a great life. “I couldn’t think of a better place to live within four to five blocks of everything I need.” A great day for Dudley is sipping tequila with great music in the background and creating art.
“Salud”
