Lago Colony

Lago Colony was a viable community of about 700 homes, a hospital, club house, bowing alley and first through twelfth grade American school. It was located on the east end of the island of Aruba and supported by the largest oil refinery in the world, which at that time was owned by Standard Oil of New Jersey. The refinery in Aruba was a subsidary of Standard Oil know as Lago Oil & Transport Co. Ltd. Lago began as a transshipping facility for crude oil from Lake Maricabo. The crude oil was transported to Aruba in ships known as the Lake Tanker. In 1928 a refinery was built and the crude oil was refined on the island and shipped all over the world. The refinery operated until 1985 when it was shut down. Some time later the refinery was purchased and reopened. Today, most of what was Lago Colony is gone, a few of the houses remain, they have been turned over to the Aruba Government and some have been sold to individuals. The refinery is operational, but it is not nearly as large as it once was. The area that was referred to as Lago Colony is now called Sero Colorado.