We stayed at The Dunes for a pageant recently and had such a fun time! It was so convenient to stay there after the event. The room was fine and did the job. It was quiet and we couldn't hear anyone in neighboring rooms. The bed was comfy and the room was clean. We had a standard king room on the second floor. Check-in was easy and our front door overlooked the pool. I don't think the pool was open when we were there because it was still chilly outside. It was a great experience, but frankly it was just a bummer that it felt like the entire space was geared towards gay men rather than queer PEOPLE as a whole. As a queer woman, I just wish it had felt like I was represented too, but it's okay cause not every space is for me! I also don't know if it's the norm, but the bar was pretty empty for a Saturday night which just didn't give the vibe for dancing I was hoping for. All the staff were so kind and helpful. Would totally stay here again if needed/staying in the area and would recommend to someone who is curious! I don't think I'd seek it out independently just because I live in Grand Rapids and it's only about 45 minutes away and again, feels like the vibe is more focused on men. read more

Great fun place on weekends .. they do charge to use the pool.. and the shows, except sunday.. T dance is great on Sunday. And a wooded area you can explore, the bartender at the front inside bar is full of attitude.. pour very very weak drinks. Monday at 9. Is trivia night.. rooms are very outdated for the price. Super expensive on weekends read more

While this location offers a suitable environment for holiday weekends, particularly the 4th of July, the mandatory five-night booking at a rate exceeding $300 per night presents a significant challenge. This policy might be more justifiable if the establishment offered structured guest events or actively engaged with local community activities. Currently, their approach to entertainment appears limited to providing a DJ for amplified music. Regarding accommodations, our king room was generally acceptable. However, housekeeping services were minimal, primarily consisting of bed-making and towel replacement. The bathroom, including the sink, toilet, shower, and floor, remained uncleaned throughout our stay. The carpet exhibited noticeable wear and dirt, and was not vacuumed during our visit. Overall, the establishment appeared to be understaffed, with the exception of the bar personnel. There is a clear need for additional wait staff, front desk personnel, pool attendants, and groundskeepers. The only consistently maintained aspect of the grounds seemed to be the lawn. Professional groundskeeping expertise is urgently required, as the bushes, ornamental grasses, trees, and planted areas are overgrown and heavily weeded. Regrettably, it appears The Dunes Resort's primary focus is financial gain, with a discernible lack of reinvestment in the property over an extended period. This is a concerning observation. read more

I love the big welcoming porch and the rainbow Adirondac chairs. There are tons of events to choose from at the Dunes. I went to a pool party in 2025 and it was a lot of fun. Met some cool people had an Apperal spritz and chilled. read more

The Dunes Resort - Aperol spritz at the pool - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Douglas, Michigan

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I was due to check out wed the 17th however inclement weather was a scheduled so I asked to check out the day before could not arrange an uber....they canceled on me four times so I would have missed my train I asked if I could go back to my room and just check out as planned on the 17th was told flat out no and I would have to pay another night for 230.00 which I couldn't afford so now im stuck here in this little shithole town with no where to go. The place wasn't even busy ,never again will I stay here read more

Overall I had a good experience. But for the price they charge (I paid $400 per night for 7 nights) there is room for improvement. The first room we were given had horrible bedding. Extremely uncomfortable after two nights I got them to switch us and it was an improvement. There should be a consistency in quality The hot tub only the jets on one side worked and there were no steps to get into it. The other thing was for a unit having a full kitchen there were not the proper items needed to use No pans or trays for the oven. No pot holders. I metal utensil for cooking no paper towels or ice cube trays. Just basics you need to use a kitchen Other than that we very much enjoyed our stay. The pool and other spaces were wonderful. But like i said for $400 a night the touches could be improved to equal the amount paid Lastly wasn't found of the pool policy of no outside beverages. Would be nice if you could bring in water at the least or something other than alcohol. Not everyone wants to drink in the day read more

So fun! Very relaxing. Great environment, very accommodating, and friendly. Can't wait to go back. read more

I stayed at the Dunes Resort from June 30, 2025 through July 10, 2025, for a total of 10 nights, spending over $2500 for the rooms (with taxes). I have stayed at the Dunes on previous occasions and was happy with my previous stays. However, for this stay (over the 4th of July weekend), there were some problems - specifically with the cleaning of the rooms. A) Room Cleaning Problems On Monday, July 7, my room was not cleaned at all. I complained to the front desk at 8 PM that the room was not cleaned and they offered to come clean the room. I felt by that time it was too late so I ended up throwing out the garbage myself and taking the dirty towels to the front desk. I had enough clean towels to last another day. On Saturday, the cleaning staff only took the old towels and brought in new towels. On Friday, I was in the room when the cleaning staff came and they asked if they could just take out the towels. I asked them to clean the room. If I had not been in the room when they came, the room would not have been cleaned. In addition, the toilet was cleaned on only 3 of the 10 days I was there. I asked people in rooms around me if they had had a similar experience. They said they did. I also talked to people around the pool on Tuesday and they all had similar complaints about the cleaning of the rooms. B) "THOSE" people comment by front desk person Another complaint I have is about a comment made by a front desk person. I did back-to-back bookings to take advantage of the mid week special. On Thursday, I went to the front desk to get my wrist band for the weekend. The front desk person looked at the reservation, saw I did back-to-back reservations and made the following statement: "oh, you must be one of THOSE people" I was taken aback by that comment. C) Loud music playing until 6 AM The room 3 doors from my room was playing very loud thumping music on Saturday night until Sunday morning at 6 AM. The music continued playing through out the night. People were going into and out of the room in a drugged out zombie state. This was on the main floor of the motel (room 1 to be specific), not in the basement dorm rooms. Given it was the 4th of July weekend, I was expecting it to be crowded and partying to go on. I do not think the Dunes had enough people staffed to clean the rooms that weekend, given all the partying that was going on. As I said, I have had good experiences at the Dunes in the past and the 4th of July weekend was not that bad, except for the cleaning situation and the loud music playing in the room 3 doors down from me through out the night. read more

This was our third stay. As always the room was immaculate. Staff friendly and helpful. My wife and I enjoy the love and kindness we always are greeted with frm staff as well as guests. Close to town and our favorite restaurants and bars. Do not forget the Dunes bar. It is fun and welcoming for all. Always something going on at the Dunes read more

The Dunes Resort is a cornerstone of the Saugatuck / Douglas community and it's development seemed to be the catalyst for the local area to develop a stronger tourism market. The rooms and property seemed very clean. We were staying here late in the season / after labor day but were pleasantly surprised the pool was still open. The bar and dance pavilion are very nice and it seemed like they offered many events to keep guests and locals entertained. The room could probably stand to be refreshed soon but it had all the amenities one should expect from a hotel but it did feel a bit dated. One area of improvement would be for the hotel to offer more food options on site (perhaps open a restaurant) as there were limited offerings within walking distance of the resort but many terrific options 1+ mile driving. read more

We stayed Thursday and Friday which at this time of year is not real busy. We had a great time. Thursday was pot luck dinner and euchre. The locals and few visitors were all very friendly. It was very relaxed atmosphere, not competitive and everyone made us feel very comfortable. Bartender was great and even kept bar open later than normal close of 10 pm. Friday was fun as well. Piano player was very good taking crowd requests and again a relaxed group of regulars as well as guests. We enjoyed our time enough to extend our stay. There were also plenty of businesses open in town. read more

I made the (apparently horrible mistake) while catching a phone call on the front patio so I could hear my conversation. A young man walking by down below asked "how did you get out there?!) I said I walked out the door..... why. He quickly scolded me and said "that is not allowed!" He added curtly that "I was NOT allowed to have a drink out there either!! I asked who he was, and said "I'm THE MANAGER"! I saw no name tag or anything indicating he was a staff member. I found his demeanor and approach really offensive and disrespectful for someone calling themselves Manager. He didn't know me and I didn't know him. IF.... He is any sort of management for your business, I would suggest he might benefit from some further training on customer service/relations. I'm sorry I didn't ask for his name as I'm sure that would be helpful if there is any interest in making improvements on how this was handled. No visible signage about not being on that deck or about drinks ALSO not being allowed there. This experience really put a damper on my interest in revisiting Douglas Dunes after coming to the place I remember from 50 years ago when I lived in Holland. As a Florida resident since '81 I doubt I'll return. Really sad and insulted now. Chris Anderson read more

We had a very relaxing 2 night stay in a cabin with wonderful fall ambience. Being mid-week and off-season, it was practically just us at the whole resort. Although we could see the guest Wi-Fi network, I couldn't get any of our devices to successfully join. I didn't bring it to the front desk's attention. Cabins are super clean and newly freshened decor. read more

pros: LGBTQ+ owned atmosphere staff events cons: price dated rooms spiders in rooms no phone or place to checkout before 10a. read more

I traveled to West Michigan at last minute to attend a family member's memorial. Not really knowing where to stay I did a little search on Trip Advisor and came across The Dunes. I extended my stay a bit so I could explore and enjoy the area. The Saugatuck/Douglas area was a really nice spot, with great restaurants, awesome beach and this great spot, The Dunes! I didn't know until the day before my arrival that it was Mr. Michigan Leather weekend at The Dunes (was surprised I could get a room), so that made the weekend even more fun! I met some great, friendly people who included solo me in their groups and had an awesome time. Many hours at the pool, great bars (inside and out) that served pretty much everything available, music was really good and I enjoyed the DJ at the tea dance. Every team member was really nice and friendly - from the housekeepers to the bartenders. I was impressed how meticulously kept the property was, my room was spotless and comfortable. Will definitely be back for a bit more time, with better planning to enjoy the area! read more

My friends and I stopped by here after hearing such wonderful and fun things about this place! Turns out it was drag show night which was SO GOOD. We all had a blast and it was definitely a highlight of our trip being here! read more

The Dunes Resort - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Douglas, Michigan

Awesome place for LGBT+ community. The pool party was packed and the drinks were strong!

6/2/19 The Dunes Resort is a LGBT Resort in Saugatuck, Michigan. I love the location and I love Saugatuck. It's a very LGBT friendly town. Lots of rainbow flags all around, which makes you feel comfortable if you don't have many towns like that. The Dunes Resort is a very nice place. Large pool and a big entertainment area where they put on shows and events. I went to the Dunes for a Womxn Weekend. Go Girl Saugatuck. I love this event. I love that the Dunes holds this event. However, outside of this event, the Dunes is about 80% men and 20% women and on Go Girl Weekend it's about 70% women and 30% men. It's nice for the change but I wish it was more 50/50 throughout the year but it's not. Maybe it's because most of their events throughout the year attract men. I am not sure but I would lean more towards that idea. Atmosphere: Clean, Love the rooms and pool area. The big event area is nice and colorful. I feel very safe there. Cost: It is kind of pricey, but it includes a lot of things in the cost plus it is in Saugatuck, so you are kind of paying for the town, being close to the beach, and in a nice area. The resort has nice rooms and lots to offer. Overall: I will give this place 4 stars. I wish it offered more events that target women but overall, it's nice and I will be going back to Go Girl. read more

The Dunes Resort - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Douglas, Michigan

Firstly, The only reason it's a four not a five yet is because I have not experienced their resort hotel rooms. I absolutely love that there's lots of free parking on property. There are lots of trees along the street to screen gawkers. We are usually here during the holidays which means tea dance parties. You enter by the main door and the dance music immediately takes you. The inside dance floor is immediately to the left when you enter. when you walk through the main bar, you can walk out into their adjoining pool area and an enormous two level open-air dance. This is where the Tea Dance magic happens, especially when there's a live DJ. There is a pool area (no glassware allowed in the area) and there is also a store for your souvenir and sexy look needs. I attached two photos DURING THE TEA DANCE, i cannot attest to what it's like on a non tea dance day read more

The Dunes Resort - a guy dancing on a fixed podium at the outside dancefloor - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Douglas, Michigan

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I've been visiting The Dunes Resort for over 20 years. The rooms are spacious and clean, the pool area is excellent with plenty of seating and a full bar. Great food is available from The Blue Frog and served to you wherever you are relaxing in the pool area. The Deck, Main Bar, Vinyl Lounge, The Club and The Show Bar offer something for everyone. You can't go wrong staying at The Dunes, especially since the entire staff is friendly and makes you feel right at home. I'd be hard pressed to say something negative about The Dunes. If you haven't been there, give it a try, you won't be disappointed. read more

The Dunes is a fun Summer get away destination, especially on holiday weekends. I've always thought of the Tea Deck as a special place, there's nothing quite like it in the Midwest. With a cluster of mirror balls and fun holiday decorations, it's something everyone should experience. The indoor club features a good light show and sound system with plenty of room to dance to the sounds of an always impressive lineup of top DJ's. Theme weekends are crazy with decor and music that perfectly matches the events. The bartenders and staff are friendly and go out of their way to make everyone feel comfortable and welcome. The cocktails are perfect if not on the strong side with specials depending on the day. They offer accomodations to suit all price ranges. The pool is free and always a happening spot on hot Summer days. My suggestion, spend a few days in the Summer and you'll definitely be back! read more

What a nightmare! My room smelled so badly of mold/mildew that it woke me up at night! When I spoke to the front desk I was literally laughed at and sent away! The room was so humid my sheets were moist. Disgusting! Friends of mine had a mouse in their room! There is no staff from 2am-9am so if you need something, you're out of luck! The resort is way too overpriced for this! Stay away! read more

So my review is based on the bar and cabaret. It's really well done and to fully appreciate it you needs to experience on a summer weekend (not to say the off-season can't be fun... it can). They have a cabaret with wonderful singers and lounge acts, a great open air dance floor which is grand and houses their Sunday tea dances...which for me is their highlight. They also feature an indoor dance floor, bathing suit shop, pool table and other nooks. I have to say I find it an major upgrade over any of the Chicago bars...it really offers an all-in-one experience. I haven't ever stayed in the rooms so can't speak for that but from a bar and entertainment standpoint I really enjoy it. read more

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I reserved two nights, 7, 8 Oct. 2024 at The Dunes Resort as a stop along a two-week road trip exploring the Great Lakes. We began our trip from Florida on 3 Oct. 2024. On 6 Oct. 2024 we became worried as Hurricane Milton was predicted to impact our home later that week. We felt we could not relax and enjoy our road trip with such worry about our home. I immediately cancelled all five of our accommodation reservations. None of the other reservationists penalized us by keeping a security deposit. Not so with The Dunes Resort, which penalized me by keeping my security deposit ($132.09). I am dismayed at The Dunes Resort's lack of understanding or regulation flexibility in such an unforeseen situation. As I finished my cancellation conversation with The Dunes Resort, their reservationist informed me that I would be losing my security deposit. I replied, "Let's hope that's all I'll lose!" referring to our house. The Resort posts their cancellation policy prominently. I am very disappointed there is no leeway for severe weather. We will re-take this trip again; however, I will likely steer clear of The Dunes Resort. CAVEAT EMPTOR read more

I visited the Dunes Resort recently for the first time. First star deduction thanks to the rude desk staff. Horrible wifi service gets the next star reduction and the last would be the uncomfortable rooms and horrible beds. Sleeping on the couch was more comfortable. The pool was great and the best part of the stay. Doubt I'll be back. read more

I came here last year to work on a play I wrote. It was a critical success (which means we had small audience, but responsive, audience. Why question a good thing? So I'm back, working on rewrites of my latest play . Thank you Dunes for being my writers retreat. read more

We spent a week in their cottage. We had a great time relaxing and enjoying their daily events at the bar and outside stage. It's a great place to stay to relax or enjoy the gay nightlife. read more

We returned to the area after living away for along time. Weve been back a year now and give the resort our patronage relatively regular (every 2 weeks). It is a very cliquey scene. In the quieter months the patrons sit in their little groups and are not friendly with anyone outside their circle. The owners don't greet guests other than their select few favorites. The bartenders are all nice but most are young skinny guys. So if twinks are your thing, then you might like it. The complex itself is awesome. They have spent alot of money over the years on improvements. They do a nice job with a variety of events. read more

Overall their service is good from people like bartenders and other sorts of staff. But they did a hugely unethical thing with their club this weekend. My friend has a PPO against someone, which are hard to get! You can't get them unless you have a serious reason and VALID reason to. One of the receptionists while my friend was checking in TOLD him that the person he had a PPO against (which, my friend doesn't know him. So this receptionist is telling people that other people are staying there...) they also told my friend that if this person violated the PPO (personal protection order, also known as restraining orders, just in case you didn't know) and he called the police to take care of it, they'd BOTH be banned for life and wouldn't get refunds. They then allowed people to scream at my friend to the point of tears. Even the officers thought that the situation was BS. So, TLDR, they threatened my friend that if he reported a crime against him, he would be banned for life with no refund. How messed up is that? All because they're friends with the guy. The owner is mean and unprofessional. read more

Hmmmm....could learn a two or three (or 4) about "RESORT"! Seedy rooms and pretty bad service! Came from LA and well...left us wondering..."they like this in the Midwest???" OK...but WHY? Our bartender Donnie was great!! Very attentive and friendly! Didn't realize who we were...which was the best! But kept saying..."I know you from somewhere!" Anyway...went to St. Joseph and had a blast with Chicago friends!!! read more

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. read more

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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. read more

The Dunes Resort - Atlanta Celebrity David K. w/ Saugatuck Celebrity Tarron - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Douglas, Michigan

The Dunes is 40 years old for a reason ! They treat every LGBTQI+ guest like royalty. Great hotel,beautiful grounds ! Saugatuck/ Douglas the hidden artistic gem of the entire Midwest . If you are gay go, go, go !!! It's already on your gay bucket list!!! Staff , entertainment, bar staff all top notch ! Peaches on the door is like a hug from your gay mom ! read more

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 decor 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. read more

For the most part I've enjoyed coming to the resort. However, I won't be going to Drag Queen Bingo anymore. Nicholas is nasty and mouthy to me. I don't find this entertaining or acceptable behavior. I've never done anything to him to deserve this. I extend kindness to everyone. However, I'm not paying to have someone treat me badly. Other than this, the resort seems good so far. I plan on returning for New Years Eve. read more

Summer Gay Playland, all our friends enjoied ourselves here for a good weekend on Lake Michigan, Men of Manwatch Dancers performed Very Hot. Kelly and Rick were great in the caberet (5) Stars, Cottage Room was very nice. I would highly recomend a weekends here if you want a packed Tea Dance don't miss it. But if not staying, sober up before you get on the road. Cops sit across street in restaurant parking lot and await if you want to be a fool and drive intoxicated. Woods are fun to explore. "lol" local shops and gay beach are close for afternoon exploration. Pool area and outside bar are fun in the afternoon to frolick with the boys. read more

The Dunes Resort - strippers! - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Douglas, Michigan

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Had a fabulous time at the dunes. Room was nice and clean, great music at the pool, and kind bartenders! Cabaret show was very entertaining. Will definitely be back! read more

I rented a cabin in September to relax and get away. The serving and cleaning staff were great. The management was awful. I had a problem with my cabin. As I asked for it it be corrected, the owner and manager were rude, demeaning , and dismissive. I'll never go back. read more

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! read more

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! read more