By JAMES MICHAELS

Residents and members of Sawmill Resort have made an offer to purchase Sawmill from the current owner. A contract was extended from the members and accepted by the owner. The historic announcement will make Sawmill Resort the largest gay resident and member-owned community in America. The Sawmill Resort is located between Orlando and Tampa, Florida.

Sawmill is a private membership club that has more than 45,000 members.

The resident and member ownership will turn Sawmill into a not-for-profit corporation that will benefit the facilities and activities of the community. Sawmill is a 120-acre community that features day, weekly and monthly hoteltype cabin rentals, RV sites and tent camping areas along with 120 permanent home sites.

The Sawmill property also features a nightclub, courtyard and stage complex, general store, pool bar, lake and extensive grounds all behind guarded gates. Sawmill has hosted many major events including shows with nationally-known as well as local entertainers and offers the perfect getaway from the day-to-day hectic life of today’s world.

According to George Cressman, President of the Sawmill Resort Homeowners Association, Inc, “The resident and member purchase of Sawmill will forever make the community a gay anchor in America. This will be the largest gay resident and member-owned community and business in this country.” The Association represents all the resident’s and member’s interests and is the organization behind the banking, legal and administration of the purchase of Sawmill.

The purchase of Sawmill is unique not only in its size and scope but as a revitalization plan for the community into the next decade. Upon purchase, all income at the resort will be reinvested into the facilities to make Sawmill a world-class gay residential and entertainment complex. Despite the economic downturn in the county, Sawmill has remained a profitable business.