New Hope Borough, with a population of approximately 2,500 residents, has been home to a host of quirky and colorful characters who enjoy a peaceful coexistence. With an artistic past and present and a rich history, it is a mecca for expressive creativity and a safe place for LGBTQ+ people to live, work, and visit. New Hope’s most memorable characters lived their lives as they pleased, and the same holds today.
New Hope’s reputation as a destination for LGBTQ+ entertainment is much deserved. From the late ’60s into today, piano bar sing-alongs, discos, cabaret, drag shows, theatre, house parties, and numerous special events flourish in and around New Hope.
As in any small town, New Hope has its share of drama. There have been times when homophobia or fear of HIV/AIDS crept in, but town residents banded together, spotlighting issues discrimination with a focus towards equality and acceptance. The bright side of life always shines in New Hope for one and all.
Throughout its history, the Cartwheel was famous for its dance parties, cabaret, drag shows and stripper nights and an amazing staff of talented bartenders. In 1976 it reopened as the Baron and then in 1980 as the New Cartwheel and Cafe Mo. A major fire in 2005 forced its closure.
“When the tin man received his heart in the Wizard of Oz he was told ‘remember, my sentimental friend, a heart is not judged by how much you love but by how much you are loved by others’. Wise words to live by, these words have made me the richest man in the world in the only way that truly matters.”
Miss Pumpkin,
aka Michael Gardner
The original Cartwheel Inn located on Route 202 was open in the ‘40s and was a popular vacation destination from Maine to Florida.
The Old Cartwheel Inn was sold and it became The Baron, a cabaret-style bar. Danny Windsor and Company along with many other entertainers performed there until it was sold in the late ‘70s and became the New Cartwheel.
The New Cartwheel was a unique space with multiple levels, a big dance floor with great music and lights, great drag shows, a video lounge (one of the first), an outdoor patio, a restaurant, and piano bar. The club was lost to a devastating fire on April 12, 2005. It was never rebuilt.
Located on Route 202 just south of New Hope, the Nevermore was a gay resort that featured a large bar and disco area and a large outdoor pool. The facility also included a hotel, restaurant, and Harlan’s cabaret nightclub. The site is currently the Clarion Hotel.
