Fire Island Pines Prepares for Summer 2022 Season
Queer travelers now have reason to return to Fire Island. After two years of pandemic restrictions and delays, Fire Island Pines is ready for a busy summer. The local boutique Hotel is taking reservations. The Pines Gym has reopened and features a new tent and equipment including two Peloton bikes. The Pines Bistro and The Canteen have updated their menus, and the island’s world-famous nightclub, The Pavilion, will be opening soon.
Sip N Twirl, CAMP & Pines Pizza are open now and the General Store and retail shops – TRBL and HANDSOME – are welcoming customers again. And Ron Dorff, a menswear brand that combines Swedish functionality with French style, is scheduled to open on May 20th.
“We are working full speed to make sure this is an amazing season on the Pines,” says PJ McAteer, Managing Partner of the Pines. Although mandates have been lifted, the island is proceeding cautiously and keeping a close eye on rising cases.
McAteer wants everyone to feel secure and free from danger when visiting Fire Island Pines, which he believes has built its reputation as being a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Fire Island Pines first became a destination for gay men in 1952, when it was illegal for two men to dance together in public and when many in the world viewed gay men as sexual deviants. With its lush foliage, white sandy beaches (850,000 cubic yards of additional sand was recently added), beautiful modern architecture, and miles of wood plank boardwalks, the island served as a refuge for young men to be themselves. The island also attracted celebrities from Liza Minelli to Luciano Pavarotti. Calvin Klein, David Geffen, Perry Ellis, and Michael Bennett purchased homes on the island.
“The Pines continues to be a unique, magical place like no other on the planet,” says Kenny Sullivan, the Resort Director.
For queer travelers in NYC, you need to take the two-hour train ride on the Long Island Railroad to the Sayville train stop. Next, you can hop on a bus to the Fire Island Pines ferry. There’s also an option to fly to the Long Island MacArthur Airport with is 10 minutes away from The Pines, including the ferry ride.
“Fire Island Pines rests on the shoulders of its LGBTQIA+ forefathers and foremothers who fought tirelessly for the protections and rights that we enjoy today,” says McAteer. “We celebrate them. It is why every day on Fire Island Pines is gay Pride.”
The Pines regularly hosts parties with world-class DJs and celebrity performers. A full event line-up will be released in the next few weeks.
If you’re planning a summer getaway to Fire Island Pines this summer, you should book accommodations immediately. Most houses on the island have already been rented for the season, but “finding a house is not impossible,” says PJ McAteer, “openings do pop up!”
Summer vacationers should check with the realtors on the island for last-minute cancellations. A limited number of accommodations are also still available in the island’s boutique hotel. For more information, visit the Fire Island Pines’ website.
