6 Gay-Owned Properties to Book Before the Summer Ends
From boutique B&Bs to countryside guest houses, these intimate and beautiful properties in the US and UK are gay-owned and operated with help from eviivo. In case you didn’t know, eviivo is a property management platform that partners with some of the world’s top gay-owned and gay-friendly properties and continues to maintain strong relationships with all owners who use have used the platform for many years.
So, if you’re looking for a last-minute summer getaway you may want to consider booking take a look at one of these incredible gay-owned properties located in LGBTQ+-friendly destinations from Palm Springs to Brighton.
UNITED STATES
The Madison Fire Island Pines (Fire Island, New York)
Situated in the heart of New York’s most beautiful LGBTQ resort community, the gay-owned Madison Fire Island Pines in Fire Island is an exclusive compound that feels worlds away from NYC. Owned by Andrew Kirtzman, the intimate and stylish 9-room guesthouse is embellished with modern decor with romantic Penthouses and located on a small barrier beach island, bordered to the north by the Great South Bay and to the south by the Atlantic Ocean, where no cars are allowed, and it’s only reachable by a 20-minute ferry ride from Sayville, Long Island.
INNdulge (Palm Springs, California)
Located in Palm Springs, INNdulge is a gay men’s clothing-optional resort that features safe accommodations where it’s Pride Month all year long. With a mid-century modern feel and a Pride flag taking front and center, the resort’s décor includes local artists’ work throughout the property. In addition to the warm welcome when guests arrive, the social nature of INNdulge keeps them coming back for more with a return rate of 80%, according to owner Jon Jackson. “We’re not interested in being the most expensive resort in Palm Springs,” said Jackson, “but we are interested in being the nicest.”
Camp Buckwood (Morgantown, Indiana)
Camp Buckwood is the first gay campground in Indiana and another consideration on this list of gay-owned properties. In 2004, it opened as a safe haven for gay and transgender men. Camp Buckwood has indoor accommodations with meals included as well as cabins, tents and RV sites. Day passes are also available for this iconic camp surrounded by breathtaking landscapes. “Buckwood, as we are known, hosts weddings, both gay and heterosexual, events every weekend from our infamous foam parties, a spooktacular Halloween, friends and family, and gaymer weekends to mention a few,” said Darren Gill, the out gay owner of Camp Buckwood. “We believe Gay Pride encompasses not just the acceptance and love of ourselves, but the love of our community, our neighbors. Buckwood is proud to be the number one private donor to the one and only free store food bank and soup kitchen in Brown County, Indiana.”
UNITED KINGDOM
Brightham House (Malborough, Devon)
The winner of the 2022 Visit England Award of Excellence, Brightham House is located near Salcombe on Devon’s beautiful south coast. The property – a labor of love for owners Scott and Alistair – merges design with the couple’s passion for travel as well as the destinations they’ve visited together. The décor is eclectic, including the huge helter-skelter mural painted on the exterior that sets the tone. It’s all carried off with playfulness and panache, and the eight chic rooms have a retro, vintage feel.
Gourmet breakfasts are served in the light-filled orangery dining room, and guests are encouraged to enjoy the well-stocked bar, wood-fired hot tub, and beautiful courtyard garden with comfy sofas. The property features a gym, fitness area as well as bikes, paddleboards, and surfboards for guests who want to venture out and see or explore the surrounding coast and countryside. You can hop on an e-bike to help tackle the hills while navigating the country lanes and exploring secluded coves.
Plas Tan-Yr Allt (Tremadog, Gwynedd)
Steeped in history, Plas Tan-Yr-Allt Historic Country House was the first Regency Villa in North Wales built in the Italian style by philanthropist and entrepreneur William Alexander Madocks, whose feats of civil engineering, including the creation of the Cob (sea wall) the then gateway to the area’s mountain quarries and bustling international port of Porth Madoc (Porthmadog) and Tre Madoc (Tremadog). Guests at the luxury B&B can take in stunning views of the Glaslyn Estuary and watch the Ffestiniog Railway’s steam trains pass by along Madock’s causeway or the Cob.
The fascinating history of ‘The Plas’ takes in a wealth of literary and musical figures: English romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley completed his epic poem, Queen Mab, while living here from 1812 to 1813. And gay brothers, E.F. Benson, creator of the eccentric Mapp & Lucia novels, and his older brother Arthur, author of the words to the rousing Land of Hope and Glory were also regular visitors.
Host Howard Mattingley and his partner Mark took over the 3-bedroom property in 2015 and offer a stylish taste of award-winning country house living, which includes serving afternoon tea in the drawing room or on the veranda that overlooks manicured lawns and more than 40 acres of ancient woodlands. Plas Tan-Yr-Allt received a 2022 Luxury Travel Guide Award as the “Luxury B&B of the Year.”
27 Brighton (Brighton, East Sussex)
A beautiful boutique guest house just off Brighton’s seafront, 27 Brighton takes its inspiration from the city’s Regency heritage. It has five elegantly furnished rooms that exude sophistication with antiques and quirky touches with big bay windows that offer views of the courtyard garden or the sea.
Owners Antony Trop and his partner John swapped running a guest house in South Africa for the cosmopolitan charms of Brighton in 2021 and haven’t looked back. “We love it here,” says Trop. “Our location is perfect, away from the hustle and bustle but close to the beach, restaurants, and bars. Our guests love it too, and we try to spoil them from the moment they arrive with thoughtful little extras like John’s freshly baked cakes.” And their attention to detail pays off because their property is consistently rated one of the best in the city, which also explains why it snagged a 2021 Traveller’s Choice Award from TripAdvisor.
