The Dunes Resort

What The Dunes Resort does

The Dunes Resort is a privately held LGBTQ+ resort and entertainment destination located on a 22-acre property at 333 Blue Star Highway in Douglas, Michigan, between the coastal towns of Saugatuck and Douglas near Lake Michigan. Founded in 1981 as The Douglas Dunes and acquired in its current form by owners Mike Jones, Danny Esterline, and Greg Trzybinski in 1999, the resort operates over 80 rooms across four product tiers (motel rooms, one-bedroom cottages and suites, two-bedroom cottages and suites, and duplex suites), with Standard Hotel Rooms starting at $338 per night. The integrated destination combines lodging with five on-site entertainment venues (The Pool + Splash Bar, The Deck, The Nightclub + Main Bar, The Cabaret, and The Vinyl Lounge), the Blue Frog restaurant and bar, and a calendar of signature themed weekend events (Underwear Weekend, White Party Weekend, All About Gear Weekend, and seasonal Tea Dances) that drive peak-season demand.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer model with revenue generated from five streams: overnight lodging, food and beverage, pool and day passes (with cabana rentals), entertainment and event cover charges, and ancillary fees such as a $40 per-night pet fee. Reservations are processed through the company-owned dunesresort.com website using the Cloudbeds platform, supplemented by phone and in-person bookings; the resort uses Brevo for email marketing. Distribution is direct-to-consumer, with referral arrangements to nearby vacation rental partners (Art Coast Properties, Sans Souci Properties) when fully booked. The company employs approximately 25 staff, with operations highly seasonal — the pool and main dining operate Memorial Day through Labor Day, while the nightclub operates every weekend year-round.

The Dunes serves primarily LGBTQ+ adults aged 21+ seeking a welcoming vacation destination, with secondary demand from day visitors and general Saugatuck/Douglas tourists. Its competitive position rests on a 45-year legacy, multi-venue on-site infrastructure, themed-event programming, and community-based word-of-mouth marketing via Instagram and an email newsletter. It has received editorial coverage as a premier LGBTQ+ destination in Lavender Magazine and Pridesource. The company has no disclosed funding, no institutional investors, and no publicly reported revenue figures.

Name

The Dunes Resort

Legal name

Dunes Resort

Website

https://dunesresort.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Dunes Resort is a privately held LGBTQ+ resort and entertainment destination in Douglas, Michigan, operating 80+ rooms across a 22-acre property with five on-site venues, dining, and signature themed weekend events serving LGBTQ+ travelers aged 21+ year-round.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Douglas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Overnight Lodging: The primary revenue stream comes from overnight accommodations including motel rooms (Standard Hotel Room, Standard King, King Junior), one-bedroom cottages and suites, two-bedroom cottages and suites, and duplex cottages. Rooms feature amenities like A/C, kitchenettes, TV, WiFi, and some include fireplaces and private hot tubs.
2. Food and Beverage: Revenue from the Blue Frog bar and restaurant serving casual dishes, cocktails, and frozen drinks. Additional revenue from the Main Bar, poolside bar service, and deck bar. Food available Memorial Day through Labor Day.
3. Pool and Day Passes: Revenue from day passes, cabana rentals, and pool admission. Cabanas include up to 4 day passes. Overnight guests receive complimentary admission to Dunes events during their stay.
4. Entertainment and Events: Revenue generated from cover charges for themed weekends and special events including DJ sets, drag performances, cabaret shows, and Tea Dances. Nightclub open every weekend year-round.
5. Pet Fees: Additional nightly fee of $40 for pet-friendly stays. Failure to register pets results in a $200 fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Dunes Resort is an LGBTQ+ resort destination operating on a 22-acre property with over 80 rooms near Lake Michigan in Douglas/Saugatuck, Michigan. It sells overnight lodging (motel rooms, one- and two-bedroom cottages, and duplex suites), on-site food and beverage (Blue Frog restaurant and multiple bars), and access to multiple entertainment venues (Pool + Splash Bar, The Deck, Nightclub + Main Bar, The Cabaret, Vinyl Lounge), along with signature themed weekend events featuring DJs, drag, cabaret, and Tea Dances.

Product overview

The Dunes Resort is an LGBTQ+ resort destination offering a diverse portfolio of lodging and entertainment products. The resort provides accommodation options across four main categories: Motel Rooms (standard double/king rooms with pool views), One Bed Cottages and Suites (stand-alone cottages with porches and private decks), Two Bed Cottages and Suites (larger units with fireplaces and private hot tubs), and Duplex Cottages (farmhouse-style suites with full kitchens). Entertainment venues include The Pool + Splash Bar, The Deck (famous for Sunday Tea Dances), The Nightclub + Main Bar, The Cabaret, and The Vinyl Lounge. The resort also features on-site dining at Blue Frog and organizes signature themed weekend events throughout the season. The integrated resort experience combines lodging, dining, multiple entertainment venues, and event programming into a unified destination offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Motel Rooms Standard motel-style rooms at The Dunes Resort available in double or king configurations with private baths, air conditioning, kitchenettes, TV, WiFi, and optional pool views. Accommodates up to 4 guests.
• One Bedroom Cottages and Suites

Quantifiable outcome

• 45+ years of continuous operations as an LGBTQ+ resort destination
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Men's Room ChicagominorGTM or Marketing PartnerMen's Room Chicago partnered with The Dunes for All About Gear Weekend (August 21-23, 2026), hosting a pop-up shop at the resort from 9pm-1am throughout the weekend. The partnership provides guests with access to gear and accessories for purchase, enhancing the themed weekend experience.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• INNdulgent Resort: Clothing-optional LGBTQ+ men's resort in Palm Springs with pool, bar, and themed events. Closely mirrors The Dunes' combined lodging + entertainment + community positioning within the same niche segment.
• Twin Palms Resort: Clothing-optional men's resort in Key West, Florida with pool and social events. Closely mirrors The Dunes' adult-oriented LGBTQ+ resort positioning with similar pool-centric programming and seasonal peaks.
• The Hacienda at Warm Sands: LGBTQ+ resort in Palm Springs offering private villa-style accommodations and pool amenities. Comparable in niche positioning and integrated resort experience; differs in targeting broader LGBTQ+ (not exclusively men's) audience.
• The Wilde Resort & Spa: LGBTQ+ resort and spa in Sedona, Arizona offering wellness-focused lodging and programming. Compares on niche LGBTQ+ resort positioning, though differentiated by wellness/spa emphasis over nightlife.
• Desert Paradise Resort: Men's LGBTQ+ resort in Palm Springs, California offering clothing-optional pool, cabanas, and event programming. Direct comparable in the LGBTQ+ resort segment with similar integrated lodging + entertainment model, but located in a warmer/less seasonal climate.
• Casa Cupula: LGBTQ+ boutique hotel and resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with pool, restaurant, and event programming. Comparable integrated LGBTQ+ resort experience in a beach-adjacent destination with strong seasonal international demand.
• Island House Resort: Men's LGBTQ+ guesthouse and resort in Key West, Florida offering pool, bar, and social programming. Directly comparable integrated LGBTQ+ resort model in a warmer, less seasonally constrained destination.

Others

• Cloudbeds: Hospitality technology platform used by The Dunes for reservations and distribution. Included as a relevant enabling technology relationship rather than a competitor; useful signal on the resort's tech stack and operational maturity.

Broad incumbents

• Hilton Worldwide: Multi-brand global lodging operator with broad resort and lifestyle portfolios. Competes for premium travel spend and benchmarks operational, distribution, and loyalty infrastructure standards against which The Dunes must compete for travelers.
• Marriott International: Global hotel and resort operator with extensive LGBTQ+ marketing and inclusive policies. Represents the mainstream hospitality benchmark The Dunes competes against for share-of-wallet and pricing; broadly incumbent in the same lodging category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/dunesresort
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-dunes-resort

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Dunes Resort