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Bobby York has a message for anyone planning on seeing her cast perform at the brand new Flamingo Resort.
“Prepare to be wowed and entertained,” the show director said during opening weekend while greeting guests in the video and dance bar. “We have a lot of talent here and we plan to bring big productions to the LGBT community of Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg.”
York has recruited an all-star cast of performers, including Coco Montrese, Iman, Alexis Mateo and Luisa Salome. The cast held its first big production night on Saturday, Aug. 29 to a packed house.
“This is just incredible,” Mateo said before performing. “There’s so much energy here.”
According to York, the cast is excited about the grand opening and plans to continue bringing bigger and better productions to the resort each week. Mix in a few special guests and “we’re going to throw a hell of a party.”
That’s what resort manager David Baker hopes to see as well.
Baker, who was working as a bar back, bartender and all-around go-to guy during the insanely busy opening weekend, plans to have themed nights and entertainment all-year long.
“We really want to cater to the local community and provide something for everyone throughout the week,” Baker said a few days before the grand opening. “We’ll have everything from female impersonators to karaoke to special guests. Hopefully it’ll be hard to get bored here.”
No one seemed bored during opening night celebrations. Out jazz musician Alan Darcy entertained a dinner crowd while guests mingled and explored the newly-revamped resort’s pool area and bar. 
“It’s great to be here and it’s incredible knowing I’m the first performer at our new gay resort,” Darcy told the crowd. “What an honor.”
Reunited
Walking through the Flamingo Resort during its opening weekend Aug. 28-30 felt more like a big reunion rather than an opening of a new bar or dance club.
“I’ve seen people here I haven’t seen in at least two regular of the former Suncoast Resort. “It’s been an amazing feeling to see these people again. I feel like we’re home.”
The Flamingo, which opened at 4601 S. 34th Street, is just a mile or so south of the old Suncoast Resort location. The prime real estate and the million-dollar renovation made for a very successful and positive opening.
“This place is spotless,” said Rebbekah McNally, who was enjoying some Tapas in the Flamingo’s new video and dance bar. “It’s so clean and nice. I really hope it stays this way.”
On Saturday, Aug. 29, the resort held it’s first-ever pool party, which brought out several local LGBT residents. Also on hand were a few out-of-towners, one who stumbled across the resort after seeing a story in a recent issue of Watermark.
“I’m visiting my mother in Gulfport and I happened to pick up the paper at Georgie’s Alibi when I came into town,” Joe says, while soaking up some sun by the pool. Joe, who didn’t give a last name, is visiting from San Francisco and says he was impressed by the resort.
“It’s so nice to have something like this,” he says. “I know when I come back to visit where I’ll stay and I can only imagine what an infusion a place like this is to the local economy. Good for St. Petersburg.”
Also excited to see the return of an LGBT resort to St. Petersburg is “Tambourine Jim,” who says he was always on the dance floor at the Suncoast Resort with his tambourine in hand.
“The DJ outside actually announced that I was here today like three times,” Tambourine Jim recalls. “I didn’t realize that I was one of those ‘Suncoast staples’ but I guess I was. I can’t wait for the T-Dances to kick off again. I finally feel like the community knows what to do with itself on the weekends now.”
Similar, but not the same
The Flamingo Resort is in no way affiliated with the Suncoast Resort. Nor is it affiliated with the rumored Stonewall Inn that was reportedly going to open in the same location last year.
“We are independent of both of those operations,” Baker says. “I worked at Suncoast for awhile, as did the other David [Reinhardt], but that’s where any affiliation ends.”
The Flamingo Resort was formerly a Knights Inn—which was known for prostitution, drug deals and a mounting pile of debt. When Reinhardt and Baker took over the property in April, they had a huge project before them.
“There was no electricity but there were still people living here,” Baker remembers. “One gentleman was trying to run a food service business here using a generator and the pool was where they held bon fires. It was a disaster.”
The dance bar that now shines with white and blue paint and offers a South Florida feel was originally painted black and had dirty, dark carpeting.
“We want this to be an inviting place and a respectable place,” Baker says. “We’ve put a lot of time, thought and effort into providing the LGBT community a place to come. We also want to offer a luxury resort for those visiting us from out of town or from out of the country.”
With 130 rentable rooms newly renovated and ready for customers, The Flamingo will no doubt remain busy, especially during holidays.
“We’re not here to take business away from anybody,” Baker says. “We’re a hub. When someone stays with us we will provide them with information about all that St. Pete offers. We have so many great bars, attractions and beaches that any visitor would be crazy to miss out on any of it.”
For more information on The Flamingo Resort, visit FlamingoFla.com or call 727-321-5000.
