Rainbow Mountain Resort, located in the Poconos in East Stroudsberg, Pennsylvania, is the gay getaway that's close to home. It takes less than three hours to drive to Rainbow Mountain from Nassau County, yet the gay-owned and operated resort is the perfect retreat for any members of our community looking for some bona fide relaxation time. The remoteness of the resort is perfect for escaping congested New York City (and its increasingly crowded suburbs) as well as the daily grind of the work week. However, there's more to do at Rainbow Mountain than just take in the fresh mountain air or lounge by the Olympic-sized pool during the summer. Every weekend, this is THE place to party in Northeast Pennsylvania, attracting out-of-towners from New York and New Jersey, local men and women, and-- thanks to the Internet-- other countries, from Germany to Australia. Jay Heck, co-owner of the Resort, states, "Locals come to meet new faces-- people from other areas." Without even leaving the resort grounds, the owners and staff at Rainbow Mountain work all year long to keep their clientele happy. Within walking distance from the lodging area, there's Rainbow Mountain's own nightclub with two levels. On the lower level, the "Lizard Lounge," there's kareoke every Friday and Saturday night, which has attracted a large following among the local club-goers. On the top level is a fully-functioning disco with dance music and DJ until 2 AM. (Sorry! Remember-- this isn't Manhattan, so you may want to B.Y.O.B. for any after-hours events!) On the Saturday night I was there, the DJ's definitely read the minds of the dance floor crowd and gave us what we wanted to hear: In addition to "can't miss" hits like Tamia's "Stranger in My House" and Deborah Cox's "Absolutely Not," we heard not one but TWO remixed hits from Cher's new "Living Proof" CD, "Song For the Lonely" and "The Music's No Good Without You." The club-goers were so enthusiastic that plans for a "Best Pecs/Buns/Boobs" Contest that night had to be canceled-- no one wanted to leave the dance floor! Rainbow Mountain Resort also has special events like Men's Weekends, Ladies' Weekends, Newlywed Games for new couples, drag contests, Easter Bonnet contests, and more. The Resort also hosts weekends and parties for different clubs and groups. Jay stated, "The theme weekends have really picked up steam. They are usually filled up the week before." He went on to mention the "Little Girls," a group of mixed gay and straight ("Actually," stated Jay, "Mostly straight!") men whose particular fetish is dressing up like little girls!

Rainbow Mountain Resort has been serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, cross-dressing, and transgendered community for 20 years. In a Sunday morning interview, owners Jay (who has co-owned the Resort since July 1999) and Bob Lombardi, recovering from the Rainbow Mountain's Mardi Gras Party the night before, spoke about the resort's appeal to the GLBT community as well as Rainbow Mountain Resort's recent improvements. "Summer is the big season," says Jay, who handles Rainbow Mountain's social events. "Once summer gets started, the main focus is the pool." There's also tennis, volleyball, badminton, and shuffleboard courts to enjoy in the warm weather. Yet there's no shortage of things to do when the snow starts to fall. About 10 minutes away from the resort, there's skiing at the well-known Shawnee Mountain Ski Area, as well as skiing at other nearby areas. There's a lake on the Resort's property for ice skating. (Although with the recent mild winter, the ice hasn't been solid enough!) Of course, whether it's summer or winter, there's also every gay man's favorite sport-- shopping. Plan at least half a day for this activity! About 20 minutes away in neighboring Tannersville, there's the Crossings Outlet with well over 70 stores (including Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY, Mikasa, Brooks Brothers, Champion, The Gap, Geoffrey Beene, and more) offering great markdowns. (Check out www.TheCrossings.com for more info.). There's also the well-known Flea Market on nearby Route 209 at Marshals Creek (Check out www.PoconoFleaMarket.com), and, according to Jay, many antique stores. "People come here for antique hunting. You can find things MUCH cheaper than in New York."

Jay and Bob are always trying new things to keep the Resort and its entertainment fresh. Recent improvements to the nightclub include an upgraded sound stage, new tiers, a third bar which serves "strictly premium Martinis," and a Limelight-style "cage"(!) The two boys also gave the dining room a "facelift" which included a new color scheme and new artwork. Bob, whose background is in tax accounting, chuckles, "Jay comes up with the designer ideas, and I build them!" There's also an exercise room and a sauna on the way. Bob's business background comes in handy for another of his responsibilities at the Resort: He books the talent that comes to perform at Rainbow Mountain's nightclub-- a job which is not always glamorous. "Dealing with their agents... it's more business oriented. But once they (the acts) come out, it's great. The performers are usually very warm and friendly, and they have a great time themselves." In the past, performers included New York drag artist Hedda Lettuce; comedians Seth Rudetsky, Paul J. Williams, Eddie Sarfaty, and Michelle Balan; music group Musique (who had the 70's hit "[Push Push] In the Bush"); and drag artist Steven Brinberg, who is famous for his flawless channeling of Barbra Streisand. "Because of the proximity to New York, many comedians come here to try out new material," says Jay. "They spend the weekend here, get a chance to try new stuff, see what works, and then take that back to New York. In New York City, comedians are used to a 'hard' crowd. Here, there's a more relaxed atmosphere. The audience isn't here to critique."

Rainbow Mountain Resort has different types of lodging, ranging from quaint single room cabins with private porches (available during the summer only) to the more modern, larger deluxe rooms with TV's. There are packages to accommodate all budgets, and most of the packages include two gourmet meals a day. Check out www.RainbowMountain.com for more details.

Jay points out that Rainbow Mountain Resort stands out from other gay resorts in that it attracts a good mix of both men AND women. "It's more friendly when you have that mixture. It makes it more comfortable." Jay leaves off with "Bob and I both love summer... we can't wait for spring!"

Rainbow Mountain Resort
210 Mount Nebo Rd.
East Stroudsberg, PA 18301
(570) 223-8484