Seattle Gay News
Issue 12, Volume 48, March 20, 2020
SPRING ARTS & TRAVEL
Historic and sunny Key West, Florida is a great place to visit by Ed Walsh SGN Contributing Writer Key West, Florida, has one of America's most dramatic riches to rags stories. By the 1830s, the island city had become the richest city per capita in the US. But unlike today, its biggest industry wasn't tourism. The city's cash cow was shipwrecks. Key West is surrounded by reefs and disastrous wrecks were common. The rules of shipwrecking were that as long as you saved people first, you could keep most of what you salvaged. But by the Great Depression Key West was one of the nation's poorest cities, even by Depression standards. Better navigation systems meant ships weren't wrecking and other businesses faded away. The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane added insult to injury when the railroad that connected Key West to the mainland was wiped out. Eventually the city got back on its feet but faced another big setback when the Navy scaled back its presence in the 1970s. By the late 1970s LGBTs were among the first to see potential, buying up properties and businesses at bargain rates. In 1983, Key West elected an openly gay mayor, Richard Heyman. He was one of the first openly LGBT mayors elected in the US. LGBT resorts and other gay-owned businesses thrived along with political clout. While there are fewer gay resorts today than in the '80s and '90s, the remaining resorts are first-rate. The city also has a vibrant gay nightlife and a host of special events.
The beach at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park – Photo by Ed Walsh
Typical Key West architecture – Photo by Ed Walsh
Resorts The tourist heart of Key West, Old Town, is also where you will find all the gay stuff. The two largest resorts for gay men are on Fleming Street, just a few blocks apart. The fabulous Island House Key West (https://islandhousekeywest.com/) has it all: a bar, 24-hour cafe, gym, wet and dry saunas, indoor and outdoor hot tubs, a large pool and an XXX video play area. Four free happy hour drinks are included with every stay. If you are not staying there, day passes at the clothing-optional resort are $30. Island House's neighbor, the Equator Resort (https://equatorresort.com/) also includes free drinks during happy hour. They also throw in a free expanded continental breakfast. The Equator used to be two separate gay resorts but a few years ago, it absorbed its neighbor, Coral Tree, and now has two hot tubs and two pools. Like the Island House, it is for men and clothing-optional. Alexander's Guesthouse (http://www. alexanderskeywest.com/) is gay/lesbian mixed and is one of the most upscale resorts on the island. The property, right across the street from the Island House, also offers a happy hour and is known for its top-shelf expanded continental breakfast. The New Orleans House (http://www. neworleanshousekw.com/) is the place to be if you want to be in the heart of the city's LGBT nightlife. The male clothingoptional resort includes a pool, hot tub, happy hour and continental breakfast. It is over the Bourbon Street Pub and guests get free admission to the club and drag shows as well as access to the balcony overlooking
see KEY WEST page 4