Had a perfect weekend when I was there. Staff was very nice, room was small but that’s to be expected for a dunes room. The night club was busy both nights and the show that ran at night too was funny and entertaining. Loved the pool side drink and food service I never had to leave my deck chair
Bobby S.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Joliet, IL
Seems ok. Nothing really fancy about the parking lot. The extra parking area in the back is famous for being able to cruise for some playtime.
Roger H.
Rating des Ortes: 5 PACIFIC PALISADES, CA
we had a great time this past weekend at the dunes we arrived on monday and stayed till wednesday, its a resort that caters to us! but bring money! They take cash only at the pool and you can use Credit Cards at the bar inside, the food they offer at bluefrog is affordable and quite good, but we ventured out to the town during the day we liked douglas best as it was quiet and charming and no big crowdsnof people like sagutuck has, its ruined with so many screaming kids and droves of icecream eating people. the dunes does do it good! friendly and genuine we found it, but some staff are inexperienced and need further training, they work for the summer then leave but come on were they just hired because they look good in over priced underwear? I hope not buddy at the main bar was terrific! kevin at the pool is a great personality! these are the staff that make good business, the ones that need further training I wont mention they know who they are. the place is clean! very clean and well appointed, and cared for beautiful grounds not one cigarette butt anywhere or garbage. its like disney very well done we plan to return we enjoyed ourselves but if you go. venture out go to town they have a grocery store not far away where you can get cash back, as well as food for the room and cook there. its better to go with someone… a bf or just a friend… but if you dont you wont be alone long unless you want to be. love the place! and to the people that say its attitudey. .if you are polite and nice they will treat you nice as well.
Arlene G.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Oak Park, IL
im only reviewing the club part and not the actual resort. went here with my friend since we were staying around the area this past weekend. this club is very trendy and spacious! it was mostly men but we still had a good time. drinks were not too expensive but they didnt have the selection i was looking for. the music was on point too but just wished there were more women there! ;- P
Jessca S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Lake Orion, MI
We had a wonderful time staying at The Dunes this weekend! Noe(who is the only one in charge of webervations) was absolutely wonderful in dealing with me. He went over all of the rooms that were available, switched my dates for me(I booked the wrong dates… clearly, I needed the vacation)… I’d have been lost without him! My boyfriend and I spent the entire weekend at The Dunes, checking out the local cities by day and hitting the club at night(you’re comped free passes if you stay at the resort). The room was super clean and well decorated, right down to the alarm clock with rainbow colored numbers. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. Noe suggested we stay Sunday for Drag Queen Bingo — we had so much fun! Drink specials were great and the proceeds to go charity! I didn’t want to leave! We plan to come back this summer with some friends and rent one of the cottages! Thank you all so much for such a fun weekend! PS — My boyfriend and I are a straight couple. He had a great time, and so did I. You’ll have so much more fun at this resort than some other stuffy hotel!
Chad O.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Chicago, IL
This is a true gem for us in the mid-west! The cottages are great(esp. if you get one with outdoor hot tub) The community pool /social space is the daytime highlight, as the outdoor dance floor is the evening hotspot. The staff is really friendly, the owners have done a great job staffing.
Phil B.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Indianapolis, IN
Nice club. Great music Saturday July 13. Had fun but also had some of the worst drinks ever. I asked for a fuzzy navel. I was asked what kind of juice I wanted. A fuzzy navel is always peach schnapps and oj. At least where I’m from it is. This had vodka couldn’t taste any peach and oj was very watered down. My second drink was rum and coke. I think I got vodka and coke or it was the worst rum ever. Another drink was sex on the beach. I have no idea how he made it. Tasted nothing like a sex on the beach. Other then the bad drinks we would go back. I think I would just stick to water or coke.
Raymond G.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Waterford Township, MI
Why is everything sticky?
Rob M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Overland Park, KS
Decided to stay a couple of nights at the Dunes(a gay men’s resort) on our way between Chicago and Detroit. It’s my first visit to Saugatuck-Douglas. The two towns are charming but, despite their billing, not exactly Provincetown or Fire Island(except maybe on weekends). During the week it’s quieter, but very nice. The Dunes is just fine. Our room(32) is spacious, with a comfortable king size bed and a generous bathroom with a big shower stall and a small fridge. Cable TV. The WiFi is free, but VERY spotty. It’s a real struggle to stay connected! The pool is very nice, with lots of chaises and a poolside bar. My BF(who’s a tall, hot Brazilian) has already been hit on, to his delight! On these weekdays the pool has been quiet in the morning, but pretty busy in the afternoon. The bar/disco is large and is probably packed on weekends. There’s take out food service. Directly across the road from the resort is the Kalico Kitchen, which serves generous breakfasts and typical American food all day long. There are a number of other restaurants in the area, which is fairly small and compact, so it’s easy to get around. From the Dunes it’s only a few minutes to the famous Oval Beach on Lake Michigan — a long stretch of sand backed by dunes and bluffs. It’s all parkland, so it’s well preserved and a delightful place to tan and swim! We’ll be back, I’m sure!
Mike M.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Saint Louis, MO
This famous gay resort in Douglas was remodeled by new owners a few years ago and much improved. A very nice main bar, with attached dance floor, pool room, and cabaret room. When we visited there were strippers several nights a week, a cookout on Wednesday afternoon, cabaret on Thursday, and a tea dance on Sunday afternoon. Its proximity to Chicago, Grand Rapids, and Detroit means that weekends are CRAZY here but the eye candy is not to be missed. Dancing mostly Fr/Sa/Su. Strippers were straight and expect more than a few local women to show up and monopolize their attention. Oh well! We didn’t stay here but the website lists a variety of small to large hotel rooms, some suites, and some cabins. Prices vary by season and size of space – expect Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day to come at a premium. Positive: the pool is basically open to the public. Bring your own towel and hang out. You can now reserve a cabana if you want guaranteed seating in the shade. If you don’t want to be ogled by 60 year-olds in speedos, then you shouldn’t wear your Pistol Pete square cut – though the hotties didn’t seem to mind! However, it seems like the filtration system is not working right as the water is very cloudy. Not sure it poses a health hazard but I made sure to shower after swimming. Yes, yes, yes there is a cruisy ‘wooded’ area behind the old hotel building where a variety of delights await the desperate and less discriminating. Wear your rubbers boys!
Christopher R.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Francisco, CA
Love the Dunes! Cabret in the back, out door dancing, speedo shop, pool tables, pool parties, and rooms too boot? Sign me up every time I’m in Michigan! Cover is usually only $ 5 and I get single $ 20s out of the ATM all of the time. And where I’m from, 1 drink is $ 20 so i find the prices VERY cheap!
Bryan M.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Saint Louis, MO
Very lame. $ 15 per person to get in on July 4th with no live show or fireworks display. Was told to drive a couple of miles down then«walk to the bridge if we wanted to see fireworks». Also the ATM will only let you withdraw $ 100 per time and charges you $ 4.25 per withdrawal. 4 drinks cost $ 20 so you quickly have to go back to the ATM. We were told the only thing you an bring as much as you want, outside of the hotel was cash. It all seemed very shady to get as much money from you as possible. I’m very disappointed!!! The should take lessons from The Flamingo in St. Petersburg Florida.
Alan K.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Los Angeles, CA
This place is essentially the dance club to be during Labor Day weekend. In fact, I think it is the only gay dance club to be in Saugatuck/Douglas. The décor is really nice both outdoors and indoors. I think it would have been interesting to get a room at this resort although since we already had a cabin, we just came here for the clubbing. I think on Saturday night, we went to the cabaret room where they had this comedian named Amy on stage that sang some great tunes. She was excellent. My expectations for this place was exceeded by the quality of the venue. The dancing and music were phenominal and the drinks were reasonably priced although the hefty $ 15 entrance fee was a little absorbent. I cannot comment on the rooms or the woods that many people affectionally call it because I didn’t go there but it seems like there are many things and people to do in the Dunes.
Steven M.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Mokena, IL
This is a great place is you are in the mood for strange! All the colors of the rainbow end up at the Dunes. The music was right on. I think they have a DJ but not on the Friday night that I was here. The patio is huge and there is a lot going on in the bar and in the back lot. Good time is had by all if you have an open mind and loose lips.
Jon S.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Chicago, IL
I’ve been coming to the Dunes for at least fifteen years, back when it was originally the Douglas Dunes under original ownership. The new owners have done a great job remodeling the bar areas and the outdoor spaces, and the new motel building is a nice addition. My partner and I usually come up at least twice during the summer for Memorial Day and/or Fourth of July, and this year we’ve visited twice during the winter season. During holiday summer weekends the place is packed, during the winter(as you might expect) the motel portion is nearly empty and the bar may have fifty people on a Sat night. It’s nice to visit during the off season just to get away from the city for a night or two, and the town is always nice… great little stores, a nearby vineyard in Fenville, and the drive isn’t bad. The older motel portion could use updating and on a busy weekend it won’t be a quiet stay, but that’s not what you wanted anyway, is it?
Delilah D.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Saugatuck, MI
This place is really fun, very accepting to everyone. Decent beers available, and really fun DJ’s for great dancing!
David K.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Atlanta, GA
This place is «unique» to say the least and I had a surprisingly good time here over Labor Day 2008. My friend Brian(«That Brian» from Detroit) and I headed down here for a fun filled weekend of cute boys and swimming. Saugatuck, MI is not where I would have expected a busy gay resort, but sure enough that’s exactly what we found. The main building has several bars and a giant sound system. Hundreds of guys are dancing outside and inside or sitting in the cabaret(featuring live music, not a drag show to my disappointment). There’s fun to be had everywhere and I’ll definitely be back if I’m ever up in the area.