Once upon a time on Fort Lauderdale Beach, there was a thriving LGBTQ hotel and entertainment complex called the Marlin Beach Hotel.
The pool bar was packed with hot men enjoying themselves. The pool was busy with people that were local and vacationers swimming and absorbing the beautiful Florida sun. The hotel had 105 rooms a stage and dance area with two restaurants along with a courtyard pool. One of the restaurants had a large aquarium window looking into the pool, allowing the diners to see all of the excitement going on in the pool. Both the hotel and the dining room were featured in the 1960 movie “Where The Boys Are.” This movie sensation put Fort Lauderdale on the world map as a destination for laying in the sun and partying the night away.
You could walk outside the hotel and across the street to sit on the beautiful beach and take a swim. This was truly a blessing to have such a wonderful experience available to our community. I have often asked myself why has there not been another Marlin Beach like hotel created on Fort Lauderdale Beach? There have been numerous guest houses that have served our community. There have been a few bars try to make it on the beach in recent years. Most successfully was Dudes. A live entertainment and stripper bar venue. But it closed.
The big question is where would a modern version of the Marlin Beach hotel serve our community and travelers from around the world the very best? I think about how amazing it would be for our community members to have such a great place to enjoy again. A new generation of LGBTQ travelers to enjoy beautiful Fort Lauderdale Beach in a way that is not available today.
I think this would also be a huge opportunity to engage the next generation of LGBTQ visitors and future residents by creating a festive LGBTQ spring break. Inspire our youth to spend their spring break on our beautiful beach along with getting to know Wilton Drive and its surrounding areas. Highlighting all the incredible waiting for them to enjoy and experience. Supporting LGBTQ youth with a fun spring break while living out and proudly is a great way to grow our community.
As I ponder my next big move in my life and how I could serve our community the very best. I feel this could be a project worth pursuing. A brand-new Marlin Beach like hotel on or very near Fort Lauderdale beach while creating a thriving LGBTQ annual spring break season filled with events to entertain our youth with an experience of a lifetime.
Marlin Beach hotel 2.0 anyone?
Bobby Blair is a LGBTQ media pioneer and leader known for his philanthropic work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community. A Florida native, he lives in Fort Lauderdale with his longtime partner, Brian Neal. Blair was inducted into the GLBT Hall of Fame in 2015.
