Nigel Smith, an Australian architect, first set foot on Fire Island Pines in 2004 at the age of twenty-eight, reveling in the newfound freedom that came with being openly gay. Reflecting on that period, he described it as 'heaven.' Those early summers were filled with carefree days spent in a Speedo, mingling with friends and strangers alike at 'tea,' a lively social gathering where groups of gay men danced, drank, and flirted away the hours. One particularly memorable experience involved a night out with friends to see the renowned drag queen Porsche perform in Cherry Grove. After indulging in too many screwdrivers, Smith got so inebriated that he collapsed into the ocean, prompting his friend to rescue him. Amidst the laughter and music, he recalled suddenly being the center of attention: 'I remember Porsche singing, and shes like, Whos that hot guy in the back? As everyone turned to look at me, I just started quietly vomiting.'

Years later, as the real estate landscape of Fire Island Pines began to shift, Smith and his friends contemplated purchasing their own property in the Pines, only to find themselves priced out of the market. 'One of my friends was moving to London, and he asked, Why dont we just make a new place?' Smith recounted. This sparked the ambitious idea for 'New Fire Island,' a proposed 'new gay paradise' intended to take shape somewhere in the Mediterranean. Initially part of the venture, Aron DSouza, a venture capitalist known for his involvement in the Hulk Hogan lawsuit against Gawker, ultimately left the project to collaborate with gay billionaire Peter Thiel on the controversial Enhanced Games, an initiative promoting doping-friendly Olympic competitions.

Last year, the team behind New Fire Island released an enticing launch video featuring Smith joyfully frolicking on the beach alongside a group of fit, shirtless men. The video invited viewers to 'join us as we find an island and create our paradise.' However, the reception was anything but warm. The Provincetown Business Guild was quick to criticize, stating, 'If you want to invest in a place devoid of culture, diversity, history that celebrates gentrificationby all means invest in New Fire Island.' Online commenters didn't hold back either, with remarks ranging from 'Sounds sticky' to criticisms about the video's lack of diversity, questioning, 'Girl... who does this appeal to besides white gays?!?' Smith defended his vision, sharing that he had invited friends from diverse backgrounds to participate in the video shoot but they were unable to attend due to work commitments. Furthermore, potential investors raised concerns about affordability, as the cheapest villas are priced at over half a million dollars, not including airfare to Europe. Despite these challenges, an impressive twenty-three hundred individuals have already joined the projects waitlist.

Smith, now sporting salt-and-pepper hair and a distinguished silver stubble, has dedicated much of the past year to securing funding and scouring the Mediterranean for a suitable island site. His goal is to find approximately one square kilometer of prime coastal land capable of accommodating up to a thousand homes, all while ensuring convenient beach access and proximity to airports. Though he faced backlashprimarily from critics in the Northeasthe remains optimistic, stating that interest has been particularly strong from Europe, where many gay men yearn for a Fire Island experience closer to home. 'Already, we have people eager to start businesses, saying, Oh, I want to run the pizza shop, or My husbands a barber.'

Earlier this month, New Fire Island hosted its inaugural meet-and-greet event at a restaurant located in the bustling South Street Seaport. Standing beneath a shimmering disco ball, Smith expressed his intent to refine the branding of the project, aiming for a more 'restrained and gentlemanly' aestheticshifting away from the loud and flashy to something more akin to sipping an Aperol spritz at three oclock. He even hinted at the possibility of changing the project's name, suggesting it could take on a name rooted in history, perhaps 'Patroclus' or 'Achilles,' referencing iconic characters from the ancient Greek epic, the Iliad.

The event brought together a diverse group of attendees, including financiers, designers, and even an equestrian show jumper who dabbles in the tequila business. Among them was Kartik Desai, a developer who commented, 'My husband and I both joined the waitlist. The bubble has inflated so much in Pines real estate that its so difficult to go now.' He expressed the urgency of securing a retreat, stating, 'The way things are going here, if they start rounding up gays, I need a place to go.'

A suave older gentleman with a distinct Colombian accent shared his desire for 'a little bit of gla-moor.' Another participant, a management consultant sporting a handlebar mustache and floral shirt, lamented the changes in the Pines real estate landscape, claiming it has become overrun by straight people and children. He emphasized the importance of preserving a space where gay men can gather without outside influences, asking Smith if 'New Fire Island' could host 'vagina-sniffing dogs at the ferry.' (Smith politely declined this suggestion.)

Despite the excitement, not everyone was convinced. One attendee from the advertising industry voiced the need for more concrete visuals, asking for 'foam-core boards with renderings.' Another guest remarked that the initiative felt like 'essentially a gated community for rich gays.' Acknowledging the rocky road ahead, Smith stood beside a table filled with unclaimed nametags and reflected, 'Building the future is hard.'