What is the Gay Neighborhood in Fire Island?
Fire Island is unique among LGBTQ+ destinations because it isn't a neighborhood within a larger city — it's an entire community. Two adjacent hamlets on this car-free barrier island have been gay havens for nearly a century: Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines.
Cherry Grove
Cherry Grove is the older of the two communities, with LGBTQ+ residents arriving as early as the 1930s when Manhattan's theater crowd began escaping to the island during Prohibition. In 2013, the Cherry Grove Community House and Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its role in what historians call America's first gay and lesbian town. The Grove is diverse, welcoming gay men, lesbians, trans and non-binary visitors, and families. Key spots include The Ice Palace (bar and performance venue), Cherry's On The Bay (waterfront restaurant and drag brunch spot), Cherry Grove Beach, and the Arts Project of Cherry Grove community theater.
Fire Island Pines
Just east of Cherry Grove, the Pines emerged in the 1950s–60s as an upscale gay male enclave. It's known for striking modernist beach houses, a vibrant pool and party culture, and world-famous circuit events. The commercial harbor area is home to Pavilion (the island's premier dance club), The Blue Whale (famous for its daily Tea Dance), Pines Bistro, and Pines Pizza.
The Meat Rack
Connecting Cherry Grove and the Pines is The Meatrack — a stretch of sunken forest and sand dunes that serves as both a nature trail and a historically significant cruising area. The roughly 20-minute walk between the two communities passes through this protected wilderness area.
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From the Blog
View all →Cherry Grove, Fire Island: The Complete Gay Guide 2026
Cherry Grove is where gay America summered before there was a word for it. Here's the complete guide to Fire Island's original queer hamlet — its history, its drag-soaked nightlife, where to stay and eat, the beach, and how it differs from the Pines next door.
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The Fire Island Pines is the glamorous, modernist, party heart of gay Fire Island. Here's the complete guide — its architecture and history, the tea-dance nightlife, where to stay and eat, the beach, and the marquee events, plus how it differs from Cherry Grove.
Robbie S.Where to Eat on Fire Island 2026: The Cherry Grove & Pines Dining Guide
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