Long before Wilton Manors became the world-famous hub of leather, dance, and cruising bars — there was Boots, a legendary stop in Fort Lauderdale’s gay nightlife circuit. Known among locals and travelers alike as one of the classic gay cruising bars in South Florida, Boots drew leathermen, muscleboys, cruisers, and night-owls under its neon glow. A favorite “send-your-friend-to-town” kind of dive, Boots’ name still sparks conversation in retro bar lore and nostalgia circles — a badge of bygone nights and liberated times in SFL’s queer scene.
