In this case, “ghost town” doesn’t mean empty – it means it ghosted. In Saugatuck, you’ll hear about a nearby ghost town called Singapore. Pausing for photos on top of the dunes near Saugatuck Dune Ride If you’re facing the water, the right end of the sand is the traditional gay area, but it’s mostly integrated these days. It used to be a nude beach (emphasis on “used to”). Of the area’s six beaches, Oval Beach is the most popular – especially when the water is high. The majority of businesses here are gay-owned – and stock all you’d ever need in shirts, soaps, and stuff to take home. Saugatuck’s Butler Street is the town’s main walking and shopping district. It’s a little place and gets busy on the weekend, but don’t miss the garden patio out back. This gay-owned coffee shop has been flying a rainbow flag since 1994 and you’ll find their beans all over Michigan. The bread is the highlight – and they have gluten-free options for the intolerant. Farmhouse DeliĪ great takeout choice if you’re on the move and packing lunch for the beach. And every table is served flash-fried chickpeas from the get-go. The Jamaican Smoke cocktail is a well-mixed introduction to mezcal if you’ve never had it. This high-end, minimalist dinner spot specializes in seafood from shores around the world. Tell a local you’re eating at Salt of the Earth to hear audible sighs of jealousy. Salt of the EarthĪ Fennville favorite that specializes in woodfired pizza but cooks up a great steak. Come on, don’t make me spell this out for you. Because I had no idea that pancakes could be juicy – until I went to Pennyroyal. And it’s well within walking distance if you’re planning to come home from the gay bar.
TRIP GAY BAR CHICAGO 1958 FREE
You’ll find some more modern amenities here like free Wi-Fi, snacks, and a continental breakfast. Blue Star Motelīlue Star Motel enjoys a cozier, boutique setting just down the road from The Dunes. Do note, that like most lodging in the area, the feel is more like a woodsy bed and breakfast than a luxury hotel. But anyone eager for quick access to a pool and bar will feel comfortable in one of the resort’s rooms or cottages – some being more private and well-equipped than others.Ĭertain weekends attract different audiences (lesbians, younger guys, etc.) – so check their site for the best idea on when to book. Overnight stays usually attract an older male crowd. Saugatuck’s gay bar and resort are one and the same. Lodgings in Saugatuck and Douglas are almost universally gay-friendly.
For having no competition, this is a great gay bar. If drag isn’t your scene, there’s a sizeable outdoor patio – and additional space indoors for chatting or dancing. And it was on par with some of the better drag I’ve seen. We saw a drag show here on the weekend, which featured a performer out of New York. On Friday and Saturday, it attracts a full-spectrum of gay men, often coming in from Detroit, Chicago, and Grand Rapids. Saturday night drag show at The Dunes Gay Bars in Saugatuck The club burned down in 1969, but one of its bartenders went on to open The Dunes Resort in 1981 – which became the largest LGBTQ resort in the Midwest and still operates today. And by the 1960s, a jazz bar known as The Blue Tempo became the area’s de facto gay club (Jazz being the devil’s music, of course).Īt that time, liquor laws prohibited the serving of alcohol to gay men – something The Blue Tempo ignored, and authorities allowed. In 1910, the Ox-Bow, an artist’s retreat, attracted all types of gay men and women from Chicago and Detroit. As early as the 1890s, Oval Beach was a destination for nudity. Saugatuck has more than a century of gay history.
Here’s what you need to know for a modern-day visit to gay Saugatuck, Michigan.