Part 1 of a Multi-Part Series

Aragon Inn
2520 N.E. 6 Avenue, Wilton Manors, FL 33305  (954) 566-2900

Just one block’s walking distance from the heart of Wilton Drive’s clubs, restaurants, shopping, and more. This 10-unit boutique resort features deluxe king or queen suites, with poolside suites enjoying their own pool “casitas.” Amenities include two salt water, clothing-optional swimming pools, water volleyball, continental breakfast, WiFi, breakfast room, private courtyard, and lush, tropical gardens.
The Aragon plays host for many big LGBT community events, including the annual spring Gay Rodeo. Room prices range from around $89 per night to $249 per night, depending on accommodations availability and the time of year.

Cabanas Guesthouse and Spa
2209 N.E. 26 Street, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 – (954) 564-7764
A special blend of fun and sophistication, the Cabanas Guesthouse and Spa is a centrally-located gay hotel in Wilton Manors, just minutes away from the shopping, dining, entertainment, and nightlife of both Wilton Manors and Fort Lauderdale, and within a few miles of the beauty of the Atlantic Ocean beaches.

The rooms at the Cabanas range from the Queen Standard ($129 – $169) to the two-bedroom, two-bath, and 1,000 sq. ft. Grand Suite ($289 – $395), which occupies the entire top floor and is popular for four or more people who are traveling together. All rooms include a coffee bar, refrigerator, flat-panel TV/DVD combo, and air conditioning. Some rooms also include a microwave, stove, full kitchens, and are located waterside. The property is pet-friendly. All guests receive complimentary expanded continental breakfast and free wireless internet.

The Cabanas includes two swimming pools and a whirlpool. The property also has a full-service men’s spa, which includes manicures, pedicures facials and massages. The spa is a favorite of both locals and guests.

Coconut Cove Guesthouse
3012 Granada Street, Ft. Lauderdale Beach, 33304 – 954-523-3226

Built in 1939, the lush courtyard is easily overlooked from the Coconut Cove Guesthouse’s plantation-style wooden verandas and louvered doors that open from each of the spacious guest rooms. The savvy gay traveler will appreciate the Coconut Cove’s modern amenities, including WiFi wireless computer connections, VCRs, efficiency or full kitchens, and full modern bathrooms. Continental breakfast is included. The Coconut Cove is located just a half block from Fort Lauderdale’s Sebastian Street gay beach, and is 30 minutes from the internationally-famous nude beach at Haulover Park.

The hotel also has a Jacuzzi, pool, and clothing-optional area, all just minutes from the gay shops, bars and restaurants of Wilton Manors.

Rates for the Standard Queen room are $89 to $169 per night, $169 to $289 per night for the Penthouse Suite, depending on the time of year. There are seven additional intermediate categories. Depending on room category, amenities include non-smoking rooms, air-conditioning, WiFi wireless computer connections, custom-made king and queen beds with 16” pillow top mattresses, full bathrooms, efficiency or full kitchens, daily maid service, and TVs with DVD players. Enjoy your morning newspaper and extensive continental breakfast either on the veranda or the deck bar.

Elysium Resort
552 N. Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL -(954) 564-9601

The Elysium Resort is located one block from the Atlantic Ocean on Fort Lauderdale Beach. It offers spacious studios and suites, detailed amenities, and a relaxed Florida atmosphere that’s set amongst lush tropical foliage. Along with close proximity to the beaches, the Elysium is near shopping on Las Olas Boulevard, the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art, and historic Himmarshee Village, the home of Old Town Fort Lauderdale. You are also minutes from the Wilton Manors gay district as well as Riverwalk in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

The basic guest room runs from $109 to $155 per night. Rates for a suite are $149 to $215 per night depending on room category and season. Amenities include a secure enclosed property with a lush tropical setting that’s located 180 yards to the beach, spacious studios and suites, private bathrooms, kitchenettes and kitchens, daily maid service, complementary local calls, complementary wireless internet access, pet-friendly rooms, guest laundry facilities, continental breakfast, private rooftop sundeck, complementary guest parking, beach chairs and umbrellas, suntan lotions, barbeque grilling station, and a DVD library.

The Flamingo Inn Amongst the Flowers
2727 Terramar Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL  33304  (954) 561-4658

The Flamingo Inn Amongst the Flowers is an intimate, European-style boutique hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach. Guests find uncommonly generous furnishings, lush tropical landscaping, a sparkling pool and unparalleled amenities.

Rooms range from the Courtyard Room ($150 to $189 per night) to The English Suite ($275 to 370 per night) with five additional categories in between. Amenities at this five-star resort include Aveda spa products, LCD flat screen televisions, luxury linens, an award-winning décor, and friendly, personalized service. At The Flamingo, the entire complex is equipped with complimentary high-speed wireless internet access. Beds are turned down every evening, the continental breakfast is served every morning, and a complimentary happy hour is served every day with a full liquor bar. Free parking is available for all guests, and the office extends full concierge services to facilitate dinner reservations, gym requests, tour bookings, car rentals, etc., all with an eye to making each stay a memorable one.

The Grand Resort and Spa
539 N. Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 – (954) 647-3822

The Grand Resort and Spa is one of Fort Lauderdale Beach’s largest and finest gay-owned and operated men’s resort hotel, located just steps from the beach and convenient to all the attractions and nightlife for which Fort Lauderdale is world-renowned.

Their standard of contemporary luxury rivals that found in today’s most popular boutique hotels. What sets The Grand apart is the genuine hospitality of their staff, and the personal attention to theirguests’ desires, like that found in smaller guesthouses.

As Fort Lauderdale’s first gay resort with its own full-service day spa and hair studio, they offer their guests an experience that is both unique and indulgent. From a relaxing Swedish massage, to a haircut before your night on the town, they can accommodate all your needs.

Their spacious, meticulously clean accommodations feature cable TV, VCRs, DVDs, hi-fi CD music systems, voice mail, irons and ironing boards, safes, hairdryer, refrigerators, gourmet pantry, microwave, and coffeemaker. Wireless internet access is available throughout.

Accommodations range from the standard Courtyard Guest Room, one king or two queen beds with private bath and walk-in shower, to The Grand Penthouse, a secluded three-room suite with a great room, gourmet open kitchen, four burner glass cook top, microwave, refrigerator (stocked with refreshments and gourmet snacks), coffee maker, and dining bar. The great room opens to an outdoor living room and private sun deck.

Rates range from $150 to $450 a night during high season, to as low as $105 to $350 a night, depending on the room selection.

La Casa Del Mar
3003 Granada Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 – (954) 467-2037

La Casa Del Mar is located on Fort Lauderdale Beach and is a one-minute walk to the Atlantic Ocean. It offers warm, European hospitality and personalized service. Many guests of La Casa Del Mar are repeat customers who have returned year after year.

Rates for a One King with kitchenette range from $95 to $149 per night. For a deluxe attached room, the price runs from $179 to $242 per night, depending on the season. There are a total of five room categories. Amenities include cable TV with DVD player, kitchenette with each room, folding beach chairs, free local telephone calls, guest computers with internet access, completely renovated rooms, DSL/WiFi access in each room, complimentary parking, DVD library, daily maid service, private bathroom with each room, and a location that’s close to the renowned shopping on Las Olas Boulevard, as well as the Galleria Mall. Guests of La Casa Del Mar may also enjoy the wonderful amenities of their sister property, The Granada Inn.

Manor Inn
2408 N.E. 6 Avenue, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 – (954) 566-8223

This Key West-style guesthouse is located just 250 yards from the heart of Wilton Manors, within striking range of bars, clubs, restaurants, shopping, and more. Manor Inn offers the utmost in privacy, with all visitors required to enter through the back of the property, and each room having a private entrance. This is a non-smoking property, both inside and out.

Room rates run $75 or less during off-season, with seasonal rates around $125 per night, and featuring a continental breakfast, coffee makers, microwaves, music systems, outdoor screened seating area, a swimming pool, and whirlpool.

Pineapple Point Guesthouse and Resort
315 N.E. 16 Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 – (954) 527-0094

Well known as the an exquisite gay men’s guesthouse and resort for more than a decade, Pineapple Point is the choice for gay men from all over to escape and relax. This luxury gay resort is one the largest properties in Greater Fort Lauderdale. Pineapple Point is comprised of six unique buildings, and is set on more than two acres that comprise a very private and lush, clothing-optional, tropical paradise–a cozy guesthouse with dozens of palm trees, deck pathways, and a maze of buildings that is fun to navigate. The rooms are decadent, with fantastic linens, fancy soaps, cable TV and free high-speed internet.

The service at Pineapple Point is second to none, as are the services, beginning with their friendly, superbly-trained staff renowned for unparalleled customer service. Amenities include wireless internet, shaded hammocks, on-site, well-equipped gym, lap pool, two Jacuzzis, massage studios, sun decks, and clothing-optional swimming pools. Continental breakfast is served daily, along with snacks, lemonade, bottled water, popsicles, and refreshing cold face towels. In addition, complimentary sun tan lotions, beach chairs, umbrellas, towels, and bikes are provided.
An evening happy hour replete with cheese and crackers, beer and wine completes a perfect day—all served complimentary, of course. During high season, guests are welcomed with a bottle of champagne and a free barbeque every Saturday.

All rooms are non-smoking, but smoking is permitted outside of the guest rooms. There are five room categories, starting with the standard Deluxe King through the ultimate Grand Villa. Room rates are $199 to $499 a night for off-season, $289 to $679 a night during high season.

Schubert Resort
855 N.E. 20 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 – (954) 763-7434

The Schubert is a large, all-male, clothing-optional private resort located in Fort Lauderdale’s Gateway/Victoria Park section. The resort is just four blocks from the Galleria Mall, which offers some of South Florida’s finest restaurants and shopping, including Dillard’s, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Abercrombie & Fitch and Godiva Chocolatier.

Since 1948, The Schubert has served as the location for several Hollywood movie productions, among them “Another Gay Movie: Gays Gone Wild.” Famous names are not unfamiliar to the Schubert guest list: some have included Brent Barrett, puppeteer Jerry Halliday, “Brady Bunch” mom Florence Henderson, Harvey Fierstein, and Holly Farris.

Having recently undergone a $2.5-million renovation, The Schubert continues to sport a retro look, charm, and style. The one-acre tropical grounds are completely enclosed, making sunning “au natural” by the pool and 10-person Jacuzzi.

Accommodations include the King Size standard room, King Suite, and Plaza Suite. Rates range from $105 to $225 a night, depending on the size of the room and the time of year.
Amenities includes king-sized bed, wet bar in rooms, flat panel television, desk, bathrobes, pool towels, iron and ironing board, clock radio, heated pool, Jacuzzi, sun decks, extended continental breakfast, computer station with printer, guest laundry facilities, WiFi, DVD players and library, a large covered courtyard, and catering for special events. Some rooms also include a private courtyard and sofa.

Gray has confirmed the purchase of the Schubert Resort and Orton Terrace by Pan Capital. Both deals were consummated at the end of June. The Schubert, owned by real estate giant Tony Dee, was purchased for $1.7 million and Orton Terrace, owned by Roger Handevidt, was purchased for $ 1 million. Both purchases were cash deals.

Over the last year or so, Pan Capital has purchased the Flamingo, the Dunes, Blue Dolphin, the Robbindale, the Royal Palms, Orton Terrace and Schubert Resorts. And that’ s ju

st for starters. The group has also purchased a large number of straight properties.

According to Gray, all of the gay accommodations purchased will remain catering to the gay traveler except the Blue Dolphin.
Gray has also told The Scoop that North Fort Lauderdale Beach is being developed into an area that will be called North Beach Village, a quaint area of cafés and boutique motels and hotels.

Orton Terrace will soon close and major renovations will get underway. The plan is to merge the Orton Terrace with the old Royal Palms into a hotel named the Hotel Lush Royale, an upscale hotel catering to the sophisticated gay traveler.

Organizations Get Pride Money

Seven Broward County organizations have received grants from Pride South Florida, the promoters of Pride Fest held in March in Oakland Park. A total of $7,000 was split evenly ($1,000 each) to the following organizations: Names Project AIDS Memorial Project, Church of the Holy Spirit, Red Hispana Florida, Gilda’s Club South Florida, Lambda’s Men’s Brotherhood, South Florida Wind Ensemble and LP Productions.

Joel Slotnick, secretary/treasurer, said attendance and revenue were lower than expected at this year’s two-day event. Pride South Florida has also changed its name to Pride Fest 2012.

Short Takes

• Congrats to our friends at SCORE on South Beach who just celebrated its 13th anniversary.
• South Beach
promoter Edison Farrow throwing a “House’ party at a real private home on Sunday, July 24th beginning at 4PM. There is no cover and the home is located at 221 N.E. 17 Street in Miami. Enjoy the pool, booze and great music.
• The 4th annual Summerfest being held on South Beach from July 22- July 24. Parties at Score and Lords Hotel.

Thanks for picking us up this week and remember: To have a friend, you must first be a friend.

If you have a “scoop” for Brad Casey, please e-mail your information to BradC@jumponmarkslist.com

(Photo: Tony Dee, owner of the Schubert Resort)

By Bob Kecskemety

Long before the concrete wall of high-rise Hiltons, Ws, Ritz Carltons and Hyatts lined the beachfront, residential neighborhoods in northeast Fort Lauderdale of Lake Ridge and Victoria Park, were interspersed with small to medium-sized mom and pop “apartment” buildings which were used to house vacationers in our area. Most only had 2 floors and many had only 3 or 4 units which could be rented by the week, month or season, few had a swimming pool but one thing they almost all had in common was lush tropical landscaping and great, personalized service from the hosts. Sparked by the tourism boom in Fort Lauderdale, these establishments, built in the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s were much more common here than any established hotel chain; except perhaps Holiday Inns.

As laws regulating hotels and motels grew more restrictive in our area, the small properties started to be replaced with familiar big establishment names on the beach, most of these apartment buildings fell to disrepair and most have since been torn down, many being replaced by high rise apartment buildings and hotels.
The Schubert Apartments, built in 1953, survived the movement to “bigger is better” and is now better known as the Schubert Resort, a historic gay property located behind the Gateway Shopping Center in Victoria Park, Fort Lauderdale.

Real estate mogul, Tony Dee bought the Schubert on July 11, 2003 with plans to turn it into a first-class gay resort in the Gateway area of Fort Lauderdale. Dee was no stranger to gay business ownership in Fort Lauderdale, having opened Chardee’s restaurant on Wilton Drive (one of the earliest gay businesses in Wilton Manors) and owning several of the strip shopping centers on “The Drive.”

“I thought it would a super place for gay people,” said Dee. “It was straight and run-down to the point I put two and half million dollars into it to renovate the property. It worked.”

However, purchasing the Schubert was Dee’s first problem. He had to deal with the people already staying at the resort.

“The resort was mostly straight,” said Dee. “We had straight reservations we had to honor. We were advertising in the gay publications and the gays didn’t want to be the straights and the straights didn’t want to stay with the gays.”

Dee was forced to make a decision that no businessperson wishes to make. He refunded all the money back for the straight reservations that had been taken. From that point on, the Schubert Resort has been 100-percent gay.

Despite the renovations and much of the modernization made by Dee, the Schubert retains much of its old-Florida retro charm.

The colors on the outside, though upgraded, remain the colors used in the rainbow of house colors used at that time and are still commonly used in the older portions of northeast Fort Lauderdale.

The pool area has all been replanted along with the addition of an outdoor spa. The large covered patio area to the south of the lobby is available to accommodate large groups of people all within a covered tropical setting.

Dee explains that the Schubert would have had a rough time that first year had it not been for the other gay guesthouses in the area during Thanksgiving and Christmas time. “When people would call them and make a reservation and the other guest house was full, they would tell the caller to try the Schubert, the new guy in town. They were very good to us.” Dee says that 98-percent of their bookings now come from the Internet.

The Schubert itself has become something of a star, having been used since Dee’s purchase and renovation, in several Hollywood major motion pictures including Ali staring Will Smith and Gays Gone Wild.

Times have been tough for the hospitality industry down here explains Dee.

“Anybody who tells you, especially in the gay resort industry that their business is way up is lying,” said Dee. Dee explained that the regular season was very good but generally after the Fourth of July holidays, bookings slow down everywhere. However, he’s expecting things to pick up again in October right before regular tourist season beings. He also does a good pre- and post-cruise business.
“They stay here for three nights before the cruise and when they come back many stay another two or three nights after the cruise. So that works out good.”

For more information or to Book a Reservation, please visit Schubert Resort on Mark’s List