The Grove is the wilder side of the gay scene and people feel free to be themselves here. Most festivities are curtailed this year, but the town is open and practicing safety.
The dense foliage creates canopies over the roller coaster boardwalks. The homes, like everything in The Grove, have a sense of humor.
The downtown area and bay front has lots of shops and restaurants. Cherry Grove has one of the only two oceanfront restaurants on Fire Island.
Cherry Grove is known for many fabulous places and outrageous events. Among them are The Miss Fire Island Contest, Invasion of The Pines, the Community Theater and The Belvedere Guest House.
The ultra private men-only Belvedere is the Venetian fantasy of John Eberhardt, a developer who died in 2014. It is a lavish and ornate as any real palace, with fountains, antiques, statuary and rooms fit for royalty. The all white exterior is stunning against the blue sky. It is even more extraordinary because it is on Fire island.
is on the National Register of Historic Places. It played an important role in the gay community as creative haven for the residents of Cherry Grove and their guests, where productions would openly address homosexual issues. View more of its history here
