TS/TV/CD Love Blog – Because Of Your Uniqueness

 What was once a blight on the neighborhood with neighbors complaining about the eyesore at the entrance to their waterfront community, the new Flamingo Resort, with the help and encouragement of the city, is set to takes it’s place as one of Florida’s top resorts for the (LGBT) gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities. The beautiful St. Petersburg waterfront, and the Largest Pride celebration in Florida, are just a few of the reasons why The Flamingo should be on the top of your list of gay vacation spots.

In another life, I’d spent many years living in the St. Petersburg, Florida area. In the early 80’s, St. Pete struggled to give their city a distinct identity as the “in spots” of Naples, Fort Meyers and Sarasota drew the majority of visitors.

Over the years the city of St. Pete has turned their waterfront into a vibrant neighborhood. It is host to the largest Pride celebration in Florida. An amazing 2 million visitors a year take advantage of the St. Pete’s spectacular water vistas, restaurants, retail shops, aquarium, community meeting space and of course, it’s world famous beaches! The city boasts the largest municipal marina in the southeast with 610 boat slips. And steps from this marina sits the rescently restored Flamingo Resort, the Southeasts’ newest exclusive GLBT luxury resort!

 

The hotel had deteriorated into a haven for drugs and prostitutes, and last fall, it was shut down by the city. The former JMS Hotel made news last fall when city officials declared it unsafe for the more than a dozen families, including 24 children, who made it their home. The hotel’s electricity had been shut off because of unpaid bills, and the water was about to be turned off. While the residents found places to live with help from city and county social services agencies, the property, which had been going through foreclosure proceedings, appeared destined to sit empty into the foreseeable future.

When when David Baker and David Reinhardt purchased the eyesore and then announced plans to renovate it, the city supported the project. Kudos to the city of St. Petersburg!!!

Just minutes from some of the best beaches in America, The Flamingo offers all the comforts of home in a lush tropical setting.

Forget the fact that two of the worlds top beaches are just a short drive away (Honeymoon island and the beaches at Fort Desoto Park), you’ll find World class museums (ex. Salvador Dali Museum), American League Baseball (The Rays), Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and a thriving Gay community are just a few of the reasons why The Flamingo should be on the top of your list of gay vacation spots.

Technorati Tags: LGBT, gay, lesbian, bisexual, vacation, St. Petersburg, Florida, St. Pete, Pride, Flamingo Resort, GLBT