Tucked between the two queer havens of Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines, the Meat Rack is more than just a stretch of sand and trees—it’s one of the most storied gay cruising areas in the world. This narrow patch of woodland has been a rite of passage for generations of gay men.

Before Grindr and Sniffies made the whole world a potential cruising area, places like The Meat Rack facilitated many memorable encounters.

A History of Hedonism

The Meat Rack’s reputation took off in the 1960s and 70s, when Fire Island became a sanctuary for gay New Yorkers looking to escape the city and live freely—at least for a weekend. In an era when cruising was as much about survival as it was about sex, this scrubby, pine-shaded stretch became a coded space for connection. Hidden from the boardwalks and beach houses, the Meat Rack offered the kind of anonymity that made it both thrilling and relatively safe from the outside world. Further reading: What is gay cruising? An etiquette guide

By the late 70s and early 80s, it had gained cult status. This was the peak of Fire Island’s libertine summers—before the AIDS crisis shifted the tone of the community. Still, the Meat Rack endured, even as attitudes toward public sex changed, the island slowly gentrified.

How the Cruising Scene Looks Today

Today, the Meat Rack still exists—physically and culturally. Walk the sandy paths from the Pines to Cherry Grove and you’ll find signs of it: well-trodden trails, discreet alcoves, and the unmistakable hush of something happening just out of sight. But it’s not quite what it once was.

In the age of apps and Airbnb, some of the urgency and mystery of the Meat Rack has faded. But that doesn’t mean the scene is gone. In fact, it sees a resurgence every summer, particularly during high season weekends and big events like Pines Party and Independence Day. Nighttime still draws cruisers from across the dunes, many using GPS-powered apps like Sniffies to find a meeting point. The code may have changed, but the ritual remains.