For 30 years, the Dunes Resort has provided simple, comfortable midwest accommodations near the Lake Michigan in Saugatuck Douglas. Now crowned one of the largest gay and lesbian resorts and entertainment complexes in the Midwest, The Dunes Resort, formerly the Douglas Dunes, is heralded as Michigan’s premier gay and lesbian vacation destination and a pinnacle of the gay Saugatuck Douglas community.
It all started when a group of friends were eating pizza and drinking margaritas in the beautiful town of Douglas, Michigan on a hot September day in 1998. The three friends – Mike Jones, Danny Esterline, and Greg Tryzbinski – came up with a fun, “what-if” idea; to buy a gay bar. In less than a year’s time, the trio transformed that simple idea into a reality.
“We were at points in our lives where it just seemed right. Maybe you shouldn’t eat pizza, drink margaritas and try to plan your life, but you just never know what’s going to happen,” recalls Jones.
Owner Mike Jones notes that the location formerly known as Douglas Dunes has an undeniable charm that shaped part of what the Dunes Resort is today. “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.”
It’s undeniable that Jones and his partners have accomplished their goal. Today, the Dunes Resort is one of the largest of gay and lesbian resorts in the Midwest, and no doubt one of the five largest in the country.
The gay hotel and resort sits on 20 acres of forest and sand dunes, oh-so-close to pristine beaches along Lake Michigan. Those seeking affordable Saugatuck accommodations will be pleased to find over 80 reasonably priced rooms, from economy lodging to suites to private cottages for groups.
Turning an overnight stay into a week-long gay friendly vacation is easy; your gay resort boasts one of the hottest gay bars in Michigan. Special events happen weekly, like Prom Weekend, the annual Black and White Anniversary featuring a Masquerade Ball, Employee Turnabout Shows, and more. Check out their photo gallery and you’ll see why the Dunes is one of the most notorious gay men resorts in the country.
Most importantly, the Dunes Resort provides a gay safe haven for Michigan gays who just want to have a good time. “The Dunes can be a lot of different things for a lot of different people. To me, it’s a little slice of heaven in the middle of West Michigan where it’s traditionally pretty conservative,” says Jones. “Whether 21 or 85, it’s home, it’s welcoming and anyone can come to The Dunes and have a good time.“
Congratulations to the Dunes Resort on 30 years of being in business!