There have been Tico MPs here for many years; some still around date back to the 40s! There were Gringos coming here and enjoying the Chicas back in the 50s, maybe some earlier. It seems like I remember there being a sign over the door to the original Lucy's location (on C10 or c12 just a few feet south of Ave 10) that said it opened in 1947. And the old bar (with rooms upstairs) that was on the corner just south of the 4 pensions on C6 was suppose to have been the first place in SJ with putas. There use to be a woman there who came to work every day with a 3 legged stool and a 5 gal. bucket. She gave BBBJCIMs for c500 (later raised the price to c1000) and they use to say she went home every day when she had filled the bucket

As for Gringo Places I really am not sure when some like the old New York Bar and Happy days opened. maybe someone else can answer that. The Hotel del REY opened in Oct 1993 and by 95 was well known and quite a few guys were visiting here. The advent of the internet caused an explosion of guys coming down!!

Maybe some of the "really old timers" can give you more info!!!