10 Forgotten Black Resorts That America Left Behind

Before some of America's best-known black beach communities became famous, there was Highland Beach, Maryland. And its story begins with an insult. In 1892, Charles Douglas, the actual son of Frederick Douglass and his wife Laura, were refused service at a nearby white resort because they were black. So Charles decided to build a place of their own. That place became Highland Beach. Across the country black families shut out of white beaches, hotels, country clubs, and amusement parks created vacation destinations of their own. Some were built by black entrepreneurs, others were developed by white businessmen who saw a huge demand for places where black families could spend their money and enjoy themselves without being treated like they didn't belong. Some of these places became famous, others have nearly disappeared from the national memory. Here are 10 of the most fascinating black resort communities in America, starting with one of the most famous. Number one, we have Idlewild, Michigan. In 1912, developers began building a resort community in Lake County, Michigan called Idlewild. Its location was no accident. It was within driving distance of major Midwestern cities like Chicago and Detroit, giving black families a chance to escape the city and spend the summer surrounded by lakes, Forests and fresh air. Idlewild became known as Black Eden. Families bought property and built cabins. But when the sun went down, Idlewild became something else. A major stop on the black entertainment circuit. Duke Ellington, B.B. King, Aretha Franklin, Della Reese and other stars performed there. At its height, Idlewild reportedly had hundreds of black owned businesses and drew tens of thousands of visitors. Then the country changed. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 finally opened the gates of many resorts and recreational spaces that had previously excluded black Americans. That was a tremendous victory. But it also meant Idlewild no longer had the same economic advantage it had been built around. Families who once had few options now had many more places they could go. Idlewild declined. By the 1990s, it was struggling economically and looked less like a glamorous vacation destination and more like a quiet retirement community. But Idlewild never completely disappeared. Today, preservation and redevelopment efforts are bringing new attention to the community and its history. Hotel Casablanca, once one of Idlewild's centerpieces, remains part of that story. Black Eden went quiet for a while, but now people are working to bring its history and its future back into view. At number two we have American Beach in Florida. On Amelia Island, just north of Jacksonville, there's a stretch of Florida coastline with an extraordinary history. It's called American Beach. Abraham Lincoln Lewis, Florida's first black millionaire and a major businessman, helped create the community as a place where black Floridians could enjoy the ocean during segregation. The idea was simple. Black people should be able to come to the beach, relax, and have a good time. American Beach grew into a major vacation destination with motels, restaurants, guest houses, nightclubs, and private homes. Ray Charles and Joe Louis visited. Writer and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston was married at one of the community's resorts. The slogan captured the spirit of the place, recreation and relaxation without humiliation. At its height, American Beach covered hundreds of acres And became an important center of black tourism. Then came two major blows. The Civil Rights Act expanded access to beaches, hotels, and other destinations. And in the summer of 1964, Hurricane Dora hit the Florida coast and caused significant damage. Together, those changes reshaped the community. Today, American Beach is quieter. Older vacation homes sit alongside vacant lots, newer homes, and larger developments. At number three, we have Lincoln Hills in Colorado. When people think about Black vacation history, they often picture the South or the East Coast. But one remarkable Black resort was tucked into the Rocky Mountains. In 1922, Black entrepreneurs A.C. Lillie and Roger Ewalt created Lincoln Hills Country Club, about 38 miles west of Denver. Colorado wasn't free of racism. The Ku Klux Klan had significant influence in the state during the 1920s and black travelers could face discrimination even without the formal segregation laws found in parts of the south. Lincoln Hills offered another option. Black families could buy small parcels of mountain land sometimes with as little as five dollars down and build cabins. Lincoln Hills eventually became the largest resort west of the Mississippi Created specifically for African Americans. At its heart was Winks Lodge, built by Aubrey Winks Hamlet. The lodge became a cultural center for the community. A YMCA camp for black girls, Camp Nozoni also operated there. The Great Depression weakened the resort. Then, as more recreational opportunities opened to black Americans, Lincoln Hills' original purpose became less economically necessary. The resort closed in the mid-1960s, but its history has been preserved. The area was added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1980, and some original families have held onto their land for generations. At number four, we have Fox Lake in Indiana. In northeastern Indiana, surrounded by more than a hundred lakes, there's one with a particularly unusual history. Fox Lake. During segregation, it became one of the few places in the area where black families could buy vacation property. Developers subdivided land around the lake in the 1920s. By the 1930s, cottages were appearing along the shore. An old farmhouse became a hotel, a barn became a restaurant and a dance hall. Little by little, Fox Lake grew into a vacation community. Families Families came from Indiana and nearby states to swim, dance, Fish and socialize. Black soldiers stationed at nearby Baer Field in Fort Wayne were invited to spend their free weekends there. Fox Lake even appeared in the Negro Motorist Green Book, which helped black travelers find places where they would be welcome. And here's what makes Fox Lake especially remarkable. Unlike many other resorts on this list, it didn't disappear. Many cottages are still owned by second and third generation families. The Fox Lake Preservation Foundation described it as a historic Black Lake resort community that continues to flourish. And the community is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. At number five, we have Highland Beach in Maryland. This is the place Charles Douglas helped build after he and his wife were refused service at a nearby resort. With financial assistance from his father, Charles purchased land along the Chesapeake Bay and began developing a summer community. By 1894, the first cottage was built. Frederick Douglass planned to spend time there, but he died in 1895 before the summer home his son was building for him was completed. That house, known as Twin Oaks, still stands and now houses the Frederick Douglass Museum and Cultural Center. Highland Highland Beach became a gathering place for prominent black intellectuals, artists, and political figures. Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois, Paul Robeson, Langston Hughes, and Mary Church Terrell were among the notable visitors and residents connected to the community. In 1922, Highland Beach became the first African American municipality in Maryland. Today it doesn't look like a traditional resort. It's a small residential town with homes many held by descendants of the original families. Commercial tourism isn't permitted, so don't expect a hotel district or a boardwalk. Highland Beach is a community and it has chosen to remain one. At number six we have Gulfside Assembly in Mississippi. On the Mississippi Gulf Coast is a place whose history is deeply connected to the black freedom. freedom struggle. Gulfside Assembly was founded in Waveland in 1923 by Bishop Robert Elijah Jones. After visiting a Chattanooga resort in Ohio, Jones imagined creating something similar for black Methodists in the segregated South. A place for religion, education, recreation, and culture. He raised money, purchased 300 acres, and leased additional beachfront property. Gulfside grew into a large retreat complex. With cottages, recreational facilities, an auditorium, and a major inn. But it became much more than a vacation destination. During the Civil Rights Movement, Gulfside gave black activists and organizations a place to meet away from the hostilities they faced elsewhere. Then nature took its turn. A 1947 hurricane destroyed buildings. In 1969, Hurricane Camille devastated the Gulf Coast and destroyed 26 buildings at Gulfside. Still, Gulfside refused to disappear. It continues to host programs, retreats, family reunions, and community events. It's one of the rare places on this list to survive segregation, hurricanes, economic decline, and changing tourism patterns. Plus, keep serving its community. At number seven, we have Bruce's Beach in California. The story of Bruce's Beach may be the most painful on this list. Because it shows what could happen when a black resort became successful. In 1912, Willa and Charles Bruce purchased property near the ocean in Manhattan Beach, California. At a time when black people faced discrimination at many Southern California beaches, the Bruces created a resort where black families could enjoy the Pacific. The business succeeded. And of course, that success drew hostility from some local officials and white residents. In 1924, Manhattan Beach used eminent domain to take the land. The process was driven by, I mean, what else? Racial hostility towards the black business and the people who visited it. In short time, the resort was destroyed and for decades the land remained in government hands. Then, nearly a century later, something extraordinary happened. In 2022, Los Angeles County... returned the property to the legal heirs of Willa and Charles Bruce. It was an act of restitution. Land taken from a black family through racial injustice was legally returned to their descendants. The county now leases the property for continued public use and maintains the lifeguard facility. Because we actually live close to this area, we made a short documentary about Bruce's Beach too. If you haven't seen it, there's a link. In number 8 we have Lincoln Beach, Louisiana. Imagine living in New Orleans, surrounded by water, but having very few places where black residents could safely enjoy it. That was the reality during segregation. In 1938, a waterfront site along Lake Pontchartrain became an important recreational space for black New Orleans. By the 1950s, Lincoln Beach had grown into a full-scale beach and amusement destination. with swimming, entertainment, and attractions. There were beauty pageants, dances, and diving competitions along the lake. It was a place for families to spend the day and for the city's black community to enjoy a beach of its own. Like many black resorts, Lincoln Beach's success was tied to the restrictions of Jim Crow. The beach officially closed in 1964 as segregation ended and its exclusive role changed. Then came decades of neglect Buildings deteriorated, hurricanes battered the site, vegetation took over, and a place that had once brought thousands of people together became an abandoned reminder of another era. But the story is changing. As of 2026, Lincoln's Beach remains closed to the public while New Orleans moves through design, permitting an early pre-construction work for its redevelopment. The goal is to safely reopen the historic site. At number 9, we have Sag Harbor's Black Beach Community. Today, the Hamptons are synonymous with wealth. But long before black Hamptons became a popular phrase, black Americans were building summer communities there. After World War II, black professionals faced major barriers to buying beachfront property. Real estate discrimination, restrictive covenants, and informal exclusion kept many white resort communities out of reach. So black families created places of their own. In Sag Harbor, their neighboring communities became especially important. Sag Harbor Hills, Azores, and Nineveh, together known as the Sands Community. Azores was established in 1947 and black families began buying property and building homes. Over time, the area became a retreat for prominent black Americans and an important center of black life on Long Island. These communities are still there. In 2019, Sag Harbor Hills, Azores, and Nineveh And finally, Oak Bluffs. On Martha's Vineyard Unlike many destinations on this list, Oak Bluffs isn't forgotten. It may be more famous than ever, but its original history is often overlooked. Black visitors had been coming to Martha's Vineyard for generations. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Oak Bluffs became one of the places where Black travelers In 1912, Charles and Henrietta Shearer opened Shearer Cottage, widely recognized as the island's first inn specifically serving Black guests. It became a destination for Black visitors, including Madam C.J. Walker and Ethel Waters. Over time, Oak Bluffs became one of America's most important Black vacation communities. The nickname, the Inkwell, became associated with the beach and black vacation culture, though the name's exact origins and meanings are still debated. What makes Oak Bluffs remarkable is that it never experienced the same collapse as many other black resorts. Families didn't keep returning only because they were shut out of other places. They returned because they had built traditions, bought homes, and formed relationships across generations. The town is associated with generations of political leaders, artists, entrepreneurs, celebrities, and professionals. Local organizations continue documenting and preserving its history. In 2025, the African American Heritage Trail added another historical Oak Bluffs home. So these 10 places had different stories. Some grew into thriving communities. Some were damaged by storms or weakened by economic change. Some were pushed aside by racism, and some are still finding ways to come back. But they all begin with the same idea. Black families deserve places where they could rest, celebrate, and belong. And they built those places themselves. Oh, and if you made it to the end of this video, if you're ready to take on a 90-day challenge, I created this journal to help you stay focused, Track your progress and reflect on your journey every day. So inside you'll find inspiring quotes from famous black celebrities and leaders to encourage you along the way. Plus space to set goals, track your progress, reflect on each day, and celebrate the small wins. Use it to stay motivated, build consistency, and see how far you've come over 90 days. You can get your copy by using the link below. It would really help out this channel. I'll catch you guys on the next video. Thank you so much for everything. Peace.