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1961
Filming of the Night of the Iguana by John Huston in Mismaloya.
Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor bought Casa Kimberly in PV after that (but note the “Casa Kimberly” you see now – it is not the same original building as it was destroyed and rebuilt).
Life Magazine carried photos of Liz and Richard that helped put Puerto Vallarta on the map for U.S. visitors.
As Elizabeth Taylor was friends with many of the Hollywood “gay mafia” her love for the city intrigued many, who made visits to Vallarta. This inspired many from the California gay community (Rock Hudson, Montgomery Clift, etc.,) to visit.
1982
Los Balcones Opens – First Gay Bar in PV
In 1982, a young Lesbian named Vicky Macedo made history. She converted her family home, where she had been raised at Juarez 182, into the first openly gay bar in Puerto Vallarta. Some old timers told us that The Piano Bar (also known at some point as The Sand Bar) was the first gay bar, but didn’t promote itself as a gay bar.
1989
Paco Ruiz opened his namesake bar Club Paco Paco
1995
Los Balcones introduces Drag Queen nights, and this is thought to be the first public drag queen contests.
1997
Apaches Martini and Cocktail Bar opened in November
Wayne Franklin opens Tropicasa Realty, one of the first gay owned real estate firms in the area.
1998
Bar Los Amigos Opened in October
Zona Romantica Guide for Club Paco Paco Newsletter was produced
Opening of Descanso del Sol Hotel with Rooftop Bar, popular after beach gay venue
Vallarta’s first gay circuit party, called Latin Fever, began in Puerto Vallarta in 1998. The five-day event was the first event to promote Puerto Vallarta extensively in the gay community in North America, and was created by Gilles Belanger (Toronto) and Will Gorges (L.A.)
1999
Mark Rome opens the Palm Cabaret
Ampas Neighborhood Association (ANA) is formed. The gay beach and that area falls into the Ampas community, and has benefited greatly from ANA.
2000
Gay Guide Vallarta Publishes Online Website
Diana DeCoste opens up Diana’s Tours, a lesbian owned boat tour company.
2001
Bar Frida opened in its first location, at 361 Lazaro Cardenas
Blue Chairs Gay Hotel remodels and reopened in May
2002
Paul Crist purchased what is now known as Hotel Mercurio
La Noche Nightclub and Bar opened in January
Casa Cupula, upscale gay boutique hotel, opens
BeefDip hosts its first small gathering – and will celebrate 20 years in 2024 (taking two years off due to COVID-19)
Garbo’s Piano Bar opens in March
2003
Gay Guide Vallarta Begins to Print Guidebook
Vallarta Enfrenta el SIDA (VES, or Vallarta Confronts AIDS) was founded by Paul Crist.
2004
Bar NY (NYPV) opened to much fanfare in March of 2004, and quietly closed in November of 2004.
2005
Club Mañana opens where the Zenith Condo building is now (corner on Ignacio L. Vallarta)
2008
Vicky Macedo, founder of the first gay bar in Vallarta, dies.
Divas Bar opens in November 2008
The Swedes Bar Opens
2009
Solidaridad Ed Thomas, AC (SETAC) opened its doors in August
Los Balcones, Vallarta’s first gay bar, closes
Anónimo Bar opened, owned by Dan Bacchus
2010
Puerto Vallarta joined the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association to begin promoting PV as a gay tourist destination
Vallarta Enfrenta el SIDA (VES, or Vallarta Confronts AIDS) closes due to funding issues
Los Equipales Bar opens in what is now the Kooky Karaoke Bar.
Reinas opens for business
Ampas Neighborhood Association was reinvigorated due to concerns over development in the area.
Timothy Real Estate Group was created by Carl Timothy.
Timothy had previously been a partner with Administradora de la Bahia/Timothy Fuller & Associates in 1999 along with Aubert C. Dykes, MD, T. Fuller Pentecost, Carl Timothy and John A. Evatz )
2011
GAYPV Publishes First Issue
Club Mañana closes under mounting financial pressures
CC Slaughter’s Opened in December
Don Pickens and Sid Goodman begin TaxiSafe program, the first official collaboration between PV Police and LGBT community sponsored by Casa Cupula and ANA. Results in dismissal and removal of PV police officers accused of abusing LBGT tourists.
2012
Nacho Daddy opened along with its upstairs theater
Spartacus Bath House opened in November
Puerto Vallarta Tourism Trust Launches International LGBTQ+ Tourism Campaign
Election of Mayor Arturo Davalos, first Mayor to officially work with the LGBTQ+ community.
Stereo bar closed in 2012. Edgar Sánchez was the owner.
2013
First Pride Celebration is held in Puerto Vallarta
ACT2PV opened its theater, then known as Act II Entertainment
La Margarita bar opens
In March, 2013, ACT LGBT had its first meeting (please see our story on the history of Vallarta Pride to read more about ACT LGBT, A.C.).
2014
January 2014, ACT LGBT officially became a civil association.
David Lansley, partner of Paco Ruiz and co-founder of Gay Guide Vallarta, dies
Puerto Vallarta Promotes Tourism at World Pride in Toronto
Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board Joins International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) and becomes first Mexican city to do so.
Mantamar Beach Club opens; Sapphire Beach Club opens.
Drag Derby, a fundraising event for the Ampas Neighborhood Association, holds its first event during the Pride Celebration week.
2015
Almar reopened after a $25 million reimagining and renovation. It had been closed since 2012.
Blondies PV – South Side opened for business
2016
Paco Ruiz, “father of Gay Vallarta” dies
Jalisco became the fourth Mexican state to legalize same-sex marriage, following Chihuahua, Coahuila and Quintana Roo; the capital, Mexico City, also recognizes same-sex marriages.
Los Equipales Bar closes
Mr. Flamingo Bar Opens
2017
Incanto Theater Opened
Out & About PV Begins Online Publishing
2018
Out & About PV Publishes First Print Issue
La ChaChaLaca Chatterbox & Bar opened (formerly Street Car Bar) in October
The Top Sky Bar and Restaurant Opened in March
Mercurio Swim shop opens
2019
Mark Page, co-founder of Gay Guide Vallarta Magazine, dies
Industry Nightclub Opens
Los Otros Blondies Opens
2020
La Catrina Cantina opened in May, 2020
2021
Studs Bear/Leather Bar opens
The Corner Bar opens
One Six One opens
Elixir Mixology and Craft Cocktails opens
Blue/Reflections Bar opens
2022
Casa Cupula celebrates its 20th year anniversary by expanding and opening a new pool club area.
Bar Frida 4.0 (and restaurant) settle into their new (and 4th location) at Venustiano Carranza and Naranjo
2023
The Tunnel Bar Opens
First training of PV police for LGBTQ+ sensitivity
