SAUGATUCK MICHIGAN Review: The Epitome of Quaint

Saugatuck Review: A World Away

An easy two and half hour drive away from Chicago is Saugatuck Michigan; a charming lakeside town with a population of just under a thousand that is filled with artists, hippies, boaters, families, and plenty of LGBTQ identified people. Chicago should be jealous of its pristine beauty and it doesn’t seem possible that this is the same lake Chicago shares. But beyond the towering sand dunes lies Lake Michigan which while certainly is as crowded as Chicago beaches, the vibe here manages to feel more tranquil and relaxed. The air smells cleaner, the sky seems bluer, and the water more colorful with shades of blues and greens with its waves gently caressing the shoreline. There is so much to see, brightly colored beach umbrellas abound, kites are flying, children are making sand castles and burying each other in the moist sand. Frisbees are being thrown and footballs caught. There’s boogie boarding and even the occasional surfer hoping to catch just the right wave, but the lake is calm today perfect for wading in waist deep with a refreshing temperature of 64 degrees as the sun blazes overhead. 

There are picnickers intermingled with partiers with the faint smell of marijuana wafting through the air. The crowd is both young, old, and every age in between with the prevailing attitude being carefree and laid back. Watching these somewhat chaotic scenes unfold this writer feels perfectly comfortable even serene roaming the beach, woods, and dunes for that perfect picture. A whistle is faintly heard in the distance coming from The Star of Saugatuck, a historic paddle boat filled with sightseers, as she slowly floats by at just the right pace causing a gentle ripple to come ashore. Postcard perfect views exist around every turn in Saugatuck.

The pinnacle of gayness is located at the Dunes Resort which is the Midwest’s only full-service LGBTQ resort. While not on Lake Michigan, the wooded property has a charm of its own and Oval Beach is mere minutes away. In the center of the resort are their pool and bar. It’s a great place to have a dip while sipping one of their frozen drink concoctions. It’s the kind of place that reminds you that you are on vacation. On Saturday there’s a poolside barbeque that sounds delightful. Most of the resort is motel style with clean efficient rooms. A nice touch is the red benches located outside between each room creating a communal “front porch” to hang out or to smoke a cigarette (ashtrays are provided). This writer sat there writing this review and everyone walking by said “hello” and asked, “how are you doing?”

An LGBTQ Destination

There are also four darling little cabins on the property and for those budget minded there are basic rooms with just a bed, no ac, or tv, and a shared bathroom. It sounds as awful as it is but one doesn’t visit Saugatuck to stay at the Dunes Resort for the décor. The Dunes Resort is about having fun. Meeting your mister right at the moment happens easily and frequently at this resort, but gay friends could easily use the resort as a starting place for their Saugatuck adventure and a gay couple would feel perfectly comfortable having a passion filled weekend here. While welcoming, this isn’t the place you would bring mom to, at least not this writer’s mother. There is a large wooded ravine that while cruisy during the day at night is filled with men having anonymous encounters seemingly around every tree or bush. There is a restaurant on the premises which provides the typical fare of sandwiches and salads, but it closes at 5 pm and besides, it’s much more interesting to venture into town where quaint eateries are abundant.  

When asked what was so great about the Dunes Resort, Alex the bartender replied, “The diversity that makes up our clientele is awesome. You have all age groups intermingling, which is something you typically don’t see in a large city gay bar.” On summer weekends there are themed parties such as Christmas in July where the Dune’s nightclub has strippers and drag queens performing. This resort is a destination spot on its own. Being located in Saugatuck is just the icing on the cake.