Dance club gay
Before âThe Gayborhoodâ
Des Moines Forgotten
By Kristian Day
6/5/2024Bob Eikelberry at the Barn Door in 1981. Photo courtesy of Gary Moore
With another Celebration month here, I include dug deep into the history books of the gay lore of Des Moines. In November of 2022, I wrote a column on the Cobalt Goose and the P&S Lounge, two gay bars with origins dating help to the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The P&S Lounge was located at 301 Second Ave. and owned by two lesbians, Peggy and Shirley. P&S eventually sold to Chuck Brooks (brother to Des Moines city councilman Archie Brooks) who went on to open many lgbtq+ bars including the celebrated City Disco Park.
The Cobalt Goose was located at 206 Third St. and was owned by Marlys Watson and her husband, Marty.
The 1960s and 1970s was a wild period for âGay Des Moines.â There were usually five or six gay bars in the heart of downtown around Court Route at any given hour along with multiple grimy bookstores separating the store fronts.
The address of 1200 Grand Ave. was place to three different bars including the M-2 (owned by Tim Mumma and Steve Anderson), Stardust (Tim Mumma and Alan Hammond), and th
The history of Iowa’s oldest lgbtq+ bar has been made into a documentary. Here's how to watch
On a typical Friday night at the Blazing Saddle in Des Moines’ East Village, tightly packed bodies crowd around the bar’s main stage, hands poking out from the throng to give cash tips to performersdressed in performative. It’s the Saddle Gurls & Friends show, and once the artists accept their final genuflect (or more commonly, dip into their most impressive split), the spotlights slash and the tune bumps. Bargoers rotate the stage into a technicolor sway floor, strong drinks in hand, staying true to the bar's motto: "Always a double, never a cover."
The Blazing Saddle is Iowa's oldest operating male lover bar. It just celebrated its 40th anniversary. Opened in 1983 by Bob “Mongo” Eikleberry, it’s been referred to as the “Gay Cheers” and has seen Iowa — and the nation — through decades of change for the LGBTQ population: from the launch — and conclude — of Don't Ask, Don't Reveal, to the outbreak of the AIDs epidemic, to the legalization of same-sex attracted marriage and the more recent passing and signing of anti-LGBTQ laws in the state.
That history will soon be shared in the form of a six-episode execute
Dancing is the ultimate way to revive, celebrate, and uplift yourself and others—and a gay club is more than just a place to dance. With the exhilaration of a pulsing defeat and a shadowy dancefloor, you can meet others over a delicious cocktail or mocktail, and enjoy the assist of community. Whether it’s a performative bar or a bear hangout, a lesbian-oriented venue or a fetish club, this roundup of queer bars shows great places to fly the lgbtq+ fest flag and rejoice in your retain body. Of course, cities like San Francisco and Providence are well-known for having multiple Queer clubs to choose from, but little towns with maybe even just one club that you have to pilot a few hours to reach produce it worth the trip. Plus, where else are you going to assemble to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race?
RECOMMENDED: The best LGBTQ+ amiable small towns in the US
Been there, done that? Consider again, my friend.
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Bars and Nightlife
Gay Bars and Clubs
Blazing Saddle (416 East 5th Ave), If you’re looking for a friendly LGBTQ+ bar in Des Moines, then you’ve found it! The Saddle is open 365 days a year featuring daily Happy Hour, Trivia Night every Tuesday, and monthly charity events for non-profits. Additionally, Latin “Nites” and various types of Flamboyant Shows every Wednesday through Sunday. See the Blazing Saddle Calendar of Events.
Buddy's Corral (418 East 5th St) is a mixed, relaxed neighborhood bar with jukebox, karaoke, located next to Blazing Saddle.
The Garden Restaurant & Entertainment Lounge (525 E Grand Ave) is an LGBT+ owned and operated business that is abode to a host of astounding talent with an outstanding legacy. The Garden offers a spacious variety of entertainment and a full kitchen menu.
The Locust Tap (434 E Locust) embodies the term "dive bar" nearly perfectly. Between the years of graffiti on the walls, original tile floor (amongst other things) dating website back 60+ years, cheap drinks, and no-frills atmosphere, what you see is what you obtain. It attracts an incredibly expansive variety of clientele. It's tru