The banker Orozimbo Roxo Loureiro created the 500 Club in the early 1950s. It followed the lines of the former 200 Club, founded by President Washington Luís to bring together influential politicians and businessmen away from the spotlight of capital cities. The initial idea of a social club did not prosper, and Orozimbo decided to develop a commercial and tourist enterprise in the area, which is well positioned between the two largest Brazilian cities.
Located in Guaratinguetá, a strategic stopping point halfway between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, the implementation was in an old farm that had its area cut off by the newly built road, the current Presidente Dutra highway. Orozimbo hired the architect Oscar Niemeyer. With him, he had already started large-scale works for the Banco Nacional Imobiliário (National Real Estate Bank), which would build some of the architect's greatest works in São Paulo, such as the Copan, Montreal, Eiffel and California buildings.
