THE DUNES RESORT, THE MIDWEST'S
LARGEST GAY / LESBIAN RESORT & ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX!
Celebrating 27 Years of being Gay!
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1981 was a big year! Reagan was sworn
in as the nation's 40th president, the Iranian hostage crisis
ended after 444 days and Walter Cronkite signed off after
19 years with CBS. It was also the year that both Reagan and
the Pope were shot; Lady Diana Spender married Charles, Prince
of Wales; and Sandra Day O'Conner became the first female
Supreme Court Justice. MTV, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears,
Paris Hilton and Beyonce were all born…. And, the CDC reported
that five homosexual men in LA had a rare form of pneumonia
seen only in patients with weakened immune systems. '81 was
a big year.
It was also the year that the Douglas Dunes first opened its
doors to curious gay men and women in Douglas (Saugatuck)
Michigan.
The original plan for the Dunes was to occupy a B&B space
just as you enter the city of Saugatuck on Lake Street. However,
after a band of bikers burned the only gay bar in town, the
city commissioners decided it was a good time to "discourage"
any new "exclusively" gay establishments looking to "drop
anchor" in town. As a result, the Dunes instead found welcoming
arms across the bridge in the Village of the Douglas. Purchasing
the drive-in Amity Motel, the Douglas Dunes was born with
22 hotel rooms, a restaurant, lobby bar and summer only outside
dancing.
Over the years, entertainers from Pop (Weather Girls, Lauren
Grey, Uptown Girls, Eartha Kitt, Pamela Stanley, Claudja Barry)
to Porn (Jack Wrangler), have all brought their talents to
the Dunes stage. Drag, leather, bears, trannies, circuit boyz,
daddies, lesbians, couples, singles, bi, fags, queers, ladies,
gents, curious, straight - whatever you might want to be called,
the Dunes has over the years hosted them all. From rumors
of murder, to the making of porn (Catalina Video's Down in
the Dunes), everything, and most likely everyone has been
the topic of discussion over the years either on the dance
floor or out back in the bushes. The Dunes has been, and continues
to be, a Gay institution.
Owners Mike Jones, Danny Esterline and Greg Trzybinski purchased
The Douglas Dunes in 1999 and renamed it, "The Dunes Resort."
Since then, the trio has worked tirelessly to perpetuate a
gay safe haven while offering top-shelf lodging and entertainment.
"When the previous owners started this in 1981, people came
here and they fell in love. We wanted to enhance the Dunes
experience, update it and continue its legacy," says Jones.
Now crowned the largest gay resort and entertainment complex
in the Midwest, The Dunes is heralded as Western Michigan's
premier gay and lesbian vacation destination and a pinnacle
of the gay Saugatuck - Douglas community.
This illustrious coming-of-age process has introduced a metropolitan
standard to the quaint surroundings of Saugatuck and Douglas.
Sprawling over 20 acres, the Dunes Resort now features over
80 rooms, 4 bars in the main building (including West Michigan's
largest Gay Dance Bar, a cabaret with live entertainment and
a game room), plus a fantastic outdoor patio bar and the areas
largest pool and pool bar.
Whether you prefer it progressive or
hard, the beat from The Dunes' on-site nightclub is uncompromising.
Resident DJ Mark Vallese and an impressive guest DJ schedule
featuring Susan Morabito, Roland Belmares, Joe Gauthreaux,
David Knapp, Lydia Prim, Chi Chi LaRue and Greg Drescher rivals
that of any urban dance venue.
The Dunes is a rare and special place where people of all
walks can find themselves, lose themselves and most importantly,
be themselves. Circuit kids, scenesters, couples and retirees
all blend with ease in a congenial, come-as-you-are atmosphere.
"You get to leave the real world for a little bit. You can
hear fantastic music or come to the cabaret for a great show.
Sing Karaoke or watch strippers. You can be gay, straight,
old or young, and feel comfortable here. It doesn't matter
who you are, everybody is welcome," says Jones.
The Dunes Resort is open seven days a
week, twelve months a year. The summer season kicks off the
first weekend in May with the 27th Annual Black & White Anniversary
Party (May 2-4, 2008) and continues through Labor Day Weekend.
Major events are held year-round.
The Dunes Resort, Celebrating 27 years
of being Gay!!
For more information:
Mike Jones, The Dunes Resort
269-857-1401 or www.dunesresort.com
Many of the photos below can be clicked
to see a larger version suitable for print.
