Hunk House

Resort

For many of photographer Bob Mizer's models, his studio became a permanent home where they spent long days sunning by the pool & enjoying one another's company. Through your financial support, our restoration of Physique Pictorial is helping revive that spirit as a gay resort cooperative in Portugal—a place designed for day visitors, long‑term residents, & everyone in between.

Set in the world's gay-friendliest country^[1] and just a shuttle ride away from high-speed rail^[2] for effortless access to Lisbon (ranked the world's gay-friendliest city),^[3] Porto (third),^[3] & Madrid (fifth).^[3] The rail also provides direct connections to two major international airport hubs, offering seamless onward travel across Europe and the world.

Unhurried days by the pool, great food, crafted drinks, entertainment, & lively parties all flow together naturally—elevated by fiber‑optic internet, quiet workspaces, & gym, all within a country that safeguards your civil rights makes it genuinely unmatched. A place to play, telework, & retire.

Why Portugal?

Portugal stands out as one of the most welcoming,^[4] affordable,^[5] & attainable^[6]^[7] destinations for gay expats.

A non‑lucrative/retirement visa requires earning only €10,440 per year in passive income,^[6] roughly equal to Portugal's national minimum wage.^[9] The digital‑nomad/teleworking visa requires earning €41,760 per year.^[7] Both offer a clear pathway to permanent residency,^[10] & adding a spouse increases the income requirement by 50%.^[6]^[7] Portugal's "golden visa" offers a family‑wide residency permit with minimal physical‑presence requirements, secured through a €500K investment in a qualifying Portuguese fund or company.^[11]

United States citizens do not need a visa if visiting for 90 days or less.^[12]

Portugal is 52.6% cheaper when comparing living in the most populous cities.^[13]

Portugal's varied climate includes regions whose weather patterns align with cities like San Diego, San Francisco, & Seattle.^[14]

Portugal is ranked 6th for the percentage of locals speaking English as a second language,^[15] & major cities, expat communities, & tourist areas are very English-friendly.^[16]

Lifestyle

The resort is an adults‑only, clothing‑optional destination that is gay‑oriented yet straight‑friendly. A multilingual cooperative accessible to English, Portuguese, and Spanish speakers. Public sexual conduct is prohibited outside of portions of the nature trails and the arcade. Planned features are contingent upon feasibility studies and legal review and would be introduced in phases.

Accommodations

A range of comfort levels from luxury seekers to community‑minded adventurers.

Luxury Cabins: Private forest retreats with spacious, thoughtfully designed climate-controlled cabins. Featuring a full in‑unit bathroom, complete with shower and toilet-mounted bidet. Guests enjoy access to room service and a living space inspired by a customized Domegia Eden layout. Perfect for guests seeking comfort, privacy, and a premium stay—whether for a weekend escape or a long‑term lease.
Standard Cabins: Comfort and privacy at an accessible price. These cozy standalone climate-controlled cabins offer a private bedroom sanctuary and are priced more affordably thanks to their bathroom‑free design. Guests enjoy access to room service. Based on a standard Domegia Eden. Ideal for travelers seeking a balance of comfort and affordability, with options for both short‑term stays and long‑term leases.
Bunk Houses: Our Quonset‑style bunk houses offer hostel‑inspired shared climate-controlled accommodations with sturdy, comfortable bunk beds. While they do not include in‑hut bathrooms or access to room service, they provide a clean and budget‑friendly environment. Designed for guests who value camaraderie, shared experiences, and the ease of arriving to a fully prepared sleeping space—no tents, no setup, no hassle. Beds are available individually or a full bunk house can be reserved for groups. Available for short‑term stays and limited long‑term leases.
Tent Sites: A simple, private, budget‑friendly way to stay. Designated campsites offer sleeping privacy and a quiet connection to nature. These sites do not include private bathrooms or access to room service making them ideal for guests who prefer minimalism or plan to spend most of their time exploring the resort. Available for short‑term stays only.

Health and Hygiene

Providing practicality, comfort, and a touch of rugged charm.

Spa: Relaxation, restoration, and personal care. Unwind with a selection of therapeutic massages, body waxing, and personal grooming services tailored to help you feel refreshed and confident. The spa blends comfort and care, offering a quiet retreat where guests can recharge both body and mind.
Sauna: Step into our traditional Finnish sauna to soothe sore muscles, improve circulation, and melt away stress. Whether you're warming up on a cool evening or finishing a workout, the sauna provides a restorative ritual that leaves you feeling renewed.
Shower House: A modern reinterpretation of the military shower house, featuring an open layout anchored by Bradley pole showers. In contrast, the restrooms are fully enclosed, private, and well‑ventilated, each equipped with a toilet‑mounted bidet and soft white‑noise audio for comfort and discretion. The result is a blend of nostalgic character and modern ease, creating an ideal place to rinse off after the gym, a trail run, or a long day in the sun.
Barber: Clean cuts, sharp lines, and classic grooming. Our on‑site barber shop provides precision haircuts, beard shaping, and traditional hot‑towel shaves. Whether you want a quick cleanup or a full grooming session, our barber offers a relaxing, confidence‑boosting experience that keeps you looking your best throughout your stay.
Laundromat: Convenience for short stays and long-term living. Our self‑service laundromat features modern washers and dryers available around the clock. For added convenience, guests can order pickup and delivery wash‑and‑fold laundry services through the in-cabin television. Perfect for extended stays or anyone who prefers to travel light.
Pharmacy: Our pharmacy offers residents convenient access to prescription medications. Tricare insurance accepted. A curated selection of over‑the‑counter medicines are available in the store.
Clinic: Practical, discreet, and accessible care. The on‑site clinic provides confidential STI testing, treatment, and basic first aid for minor cuts, scrapes, and everyday concerns. Staffed by licensed professionals and accepting Tricare insurance, it ensures guests have access to essential care without leaving the resort. For any medical concerns beyond minor issues, guests should always consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Recreation

Spaces designed for connection, play, fitness, and a little mischief—all woven into the experience.

Plunge Pool: A social hub built for cooling off and making connections. Our chest‑high, flat‑bottomed plunge pool is perfect for lounging, chatting, and meeting new friends while staying refreshed under the sun. It's intentionally shallow to encourage conversation, not laps—a relaxed, communal space where the vibe is always easy and inviting.
Hot Tubs: Warm, jetted comfort for cool nights and deep relaxation. Slip into the soothing heat of our hot tubs and let the powerful jets melt away tension. Whether you're unwinding after a long day or settling in for a late‑night soak, the hot tubs offer a cozy, intimate atmosphere ideal for conversation or quiet relaxation.
Fire Pits: Firelit comfort for cool evenings and easy conversation. Settle in around the glow of our fire pits and let the steady warmth take the edge off the night air. Whether you're sharing stories with new friends or enjoying a quiet moment under the stars, the fire pits create a cozy, intimate atmosphere perfect for lingering long after sunset.
Excursions: Join fellow residents and guests for short trips around town or guided day excursions to Lisbon and Madrid, where you can explore local hotspots, meet friendly locals, and experience each city's vibrant queer culture. Transportation, itineraries, and meetup points are fully coordinated, making every outing a smooth, social, and memorable adventure beyond the resort grounds.
Bike Rentals: Easy, scenic mobility for exploring the region at your own pace. Grab a bike and cruise through town, roll along nearby trails, or venture out to hidden local spots. Whether you're riding solo or joining friends for a casual group outing, our bikes offer a fun, flexible way to see more, stay active, and enjoy the local area.
Nature Trails: Scenic paths wind through the resort for relaxed exploration. Enjoy a peaceful morning walk along our wooded trails or cruise onto one of the special paths designed for guests who want a more social experience in the bushes.
Gym: Our gym features free weights, machine weights, and cardio equipment, giving guests everything they need for strength training, conditioning, or a quick pump before hitting the pool. Clean, well‑maintained, and designed for all fitness levels.
Soccer Field: A lively turf for friendly competition and community pride. Our full‑size soccer field hosts pickup games, residents‑versus‑visitors matches, and tournaments featuring traveling LGBTQ+ sports teams. Imagine watching the Lisbon Foxes facing off against Madrid's DragonQueer—spirited, social, and always fun to watch or join.
Hall: A versatile venue for shows, gatherings, and community events. Our indoor multipurpose hall hosts everything from performances and screenings to workshops, meetings, and themed events. With flexible seating and great acoustics, it's the heart of our group programming and entertainment calendar.
Arcade: Descend into our moody, dimly-lit video arcade and a twisting labyrinth of booths with holes for ample ventilation.
Adventurer's Guild: A dedicated lair for tabletop and card‑based adventures. Perfect for fans of Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, and other tabletop games, the guild offers a comfortable, immersive space for casual play or structured campaigns. Dungeon Master-led Adventurer's League sessions with open signups, or private group reservations available. A welcoming environment for both seasoned players and curious newcomers.
Language Classes: Build your Portuguese and Spanish skills in a fun, social setting with teacher‑led group classes designed to help everyone learn together. These relaxed sessions focus on practical conversation, shared activities, and real‑life phrases you'll actually use around town. It's a friendly, low‑pressure environment where guests can practice with one another, laugh through mistakes, and cheer each other on while developing confidence and connection—both with the language and with the guys learning it alongside you. Formal, college‑accredited in‑person classes offered on‑site would allow GI Bill students to satisfy the "1 class in person" requirement needed to qualify for the higher, location‑based housing allowance.^[17]

Food and Beverage

Our food and beverage options are designed to keep you satisfied, refreshed, and effortlessly cared for throughout your stay—whether you're craving a full meal, a crafted drink, a late‑night coffee, or the convenience of room‑delivered comfort. Inclusive food‑and‑drink plans are available to residents.

Restaurant: A welcoming dining space offering both made‑to‑order meals and ready‑made favorites, perfect for everything from a quick bite to a slow, indulgent dinner. Food comfortably familiar to American palates while drawing inspiration from Portugal's ingredients, recipes, and regional cooking styles. Enjoy indoor seating for a relaxed meal or outdoor dining by the pool for a breezy, social atmosphere. Every dish can be delivered directly to your cabin through room service for maximum convenience.
Bar: A full‑service bar located steps from the pool, serving crafted cocktails, local wines, cold beers, and zero‑proof options. Whether you're lounging in the sun or unwinding after a long day, drinks can be enjoyed on‑site or delivered straight to your cabin through room service.
Coffee Bar: Your always‑open caffeine nook. Freshly brewed coffee, espresso drinks, teas, and light snacks are available day or night. Perfect for early risers, night owls, and anyone who wants a warm cup in hand while wandering the grounds.
Room Service: A seamless, resort‑wide service providing delivery of meals, beverages, and store goods. Guests can also request laundry pickup, room cleanings, towel refreshes, reservations, and concierge assistance—all ordered through the in-cabin television for a smooth, modern, no‑phone‑call experience.

Amenities

Our everyday essentials and creative workspaces are designed to keep life effortless, productive, and inspiring, offering everything from on‑site shopping and quiet study areas to professional content studios and a seamless in‑cabin service system.

Store: A convenient on‑site general store stocked with toiletries, over‑the‑counter medicines, snacks, groceries, and camping essentials. Delivery is available through your in‑cabin television for effortless, no‑errand living.
Network Connectivity: Stay connected with a fiber‑optic backbone powering high‑speed, resort‑wide internet. A mesh Wi‑Fi network ensures strong, seamless coverage across the grounds, while in‑cabin Ethernet ports provide stable, hard‑wired connections for anyone who needs maximum reliability. Whether you're posting pool selfies, sliding into DMs, or livestreaming from your cabin, the entire property is built for fast, dependable connectivity.
Hospitality Television: An in‑cabin entertainment and service hub offering on‑demand movies, television shows, and music stations. Guests can also use it to order room service, request cleaning or laundry, schedule reservations, or contact concierge services.
Library: A quiet, comfortable space designed for work, study, and focus. The library includes a computer lab, individual desks, and private telework rooms—ideal for remote workers, digital nomads, or anyone who needs a productive environment between dips in the pool and evening events.
Security: Our grounds are fully enclosed with controlled access points and well‑lighted trails, creating a safe, private environment where guests can relax, explore, and enjoy the property with confidence.
Content Creator Studio: Professional‑grade studios available for our teleworking resident OnlyFans content creators and their guests. Equipped with lighting and recording spaces, the studio supports everything from casual shoots to polished, high‑quality content. A discreet, creator‑friendly environment that respects privacy and workflow.

Flora and Fauna

Our landscape blends natural abundance with thoughtful stewardship, creating an environment where food, wildlife, and water systems work in harmony to support both the land and the guests who call it home.

Food Forest: A thriving food forest built around permaculture guilds of plum, apricot, walnut, olive, cherry, and apple trees—species already grown commercially in the region and well adapted to the climate. Holm oaks (Quercus rotundifolia) are planted with truffle‑inoculated roots, offering the potential for winter truffle harvests. Experimental plantings of pomegranate, fig, Hass avocado, and citrus add variety. These trees weave a cooling canopy of shade across the resort and its trails. A deep layer of mulch blankets the ground to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and build long‑term soil health, reducing irrigation needs.
Muscovy Ducks: Quiet, gentle Muscovy ducks roam freely throughout the resort, providing natural pest control by eating insects, slugs, and mosquitos. They also contribute to the resort's food system by laying rich, flavorful eggs from spring through autumn. Their presence adds charm, ecological balance, and a touch of pastoral calm to the landscape.
Water Reclamation: The resort is designed around responsible water stewardship, incorporating gray‑water reclamation, efficient irrigation, and modern septic systems. Reclaimed water supports the food forest and ornamental plantings, reducing strain on local resources and ensuring the resort remains sustainable even during Portugal's dry summer months.

Policies and Governance

Cooperative core rules, decision‑making structure, and resident participation systems to ensure transparent, stable, and community‑driven operations.

Ownership: Organized as a non‑profit cooperative, the resort is governed by a board and resident voting members rather than individual property owners, creating a community designed to remain affordable, inclusive, and sustainably stewarded for the long term. Individuals who prefer to own or rent traditional accommodations are encouraged to seek nearby housing and enjoy the resort through day passes, month passes, or annual access options.
Pricing: The target pricing structure is to align the cost of a bunk house bed with a meal plan to Portugal's non‑lucrative visa income requirements. This benchmark ensures that a distance‑education student using the GI Bill can live on‑site while attending college fully online.^[17] This price point is independent of the volunteer program which offers residents an additional way to lower expenses.

Cooperative Participation

Cooperative participation programs offer residents meaningful ways to contribute to daily life and long‑term development through structured, community-driven involvement.

Volunteering: Volunteering is an optional way for residents who prefer a more hands-on role to support the cooperative, connect with others, and earn modest room-and-board credits that help reduce living costs. Activities remain flexible and community-focused, from tending the food forest, mulching trails, assisting with simple, non‑specialized construction tasks,^[18] and caring for shared outdoor spaces to supporting events, maintaining shared environments like the library, or contributing creative work such as photography or signage. Volunteers never perform specialized, licensed, or safety‑critical duties—those remain with paid staff or contracted professionals—and participation is never tied to residency or access to amenities. Most contribute only a few hours per week, earning transparent, community‑approved credits without pressure to "work", and participation may be started, paused, or ended freely. A resident-elected committee coordinates the program, gathers feedback, and ensures alignment with cooperative values, with all policies reviewed through resident governance. Because many residents may hold visas, volunteer activities are structured as mutual-aid participation rather than employment and limited to tasks that comply with Portuguese cooperative and immigration guidelines.
Apprenticeship: A structured apprenticeship program offers individuals the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in alternative and sustainable construction methods while contributing to the gradual, landscape-sensitive development of the resort's built environment. Designed as an education-first pathway, the program provides guided instruction, supervised practice, and a clear curriculum introducing innovative building materials, small-scale structural techniques, and community-oriented design principles rooted in thoughtful observation and ecological harmony. All technical, structural, or safety-critical work remains the responsibility of licensed professionals, ensuring that apprentices engage only in tasks appropriate for learners. Each project is selected for its instructional value and its alignment with long-term site stewardship, enabling participants to build foundational skills in a supportive environment while assisting with non-specialized tasks that enhance the cooperative's infrastructure. Training follows a flexible training schedule—typically 90 to 180 days—that that incorporates mentorship, skills assessments, and a gradual, systems-aware approach to preparing individuals for future careers in construction, trades, or related fields.

Phases

Our vision is ambitious and will take time to achieve. Development is expected to progress through the following phases:

Phase 0 ← We're Here: Before any shovel hits the ground, financing must be obtained. Your patronage is essential in securing a mortgage to purchase the land. Several well‑suited properties are under consideration, but offers and due diligence cannot begin until funding is in place.
Phase 1 — Target: 2029 or Earlier: Development Track: United States; A small property is developed near an established gay resort in the United States to help meet its need for additional lodging. The symbiotic relationship introduces the bunk houses and luxury cabins envisioned for the cooperative, naturally increases project awareness, and provides a steady stream of guest feedback to refine concepts before implementation at scale abroad. This track reaches visitors who already enjoy gay resorts while offering newcomers a low-barrier opportunity to explore the experience.; Development Track: Portugal; With financial backing in place and preliminary research completed, the next step is to move forward with an offer on a selected property in Portugal. If the offer is accepted and the site is secured, extensive due diligence would follow to confirm that the location can support the resort's needs and that all required permits are attainable. When all conditions align, the closing process can proceed and the project can advance to the next phase. Throughout this process, patrons will receive curated updates, including photos, concept layouts, and information about the surrounding area. Identifying details, however, must remain confidential until the property is fully secured.
Phase 2: In line with the goal of establishing a permaculture food forest, the first step after finalizing the land purchase in Portugal is to slow down and watch.^[19] This includes studying the terrain, weather patterns, water movement, sunlight exposure, and the interactions between existing features. These observations will guide refinement of the resort layout. Two cabins would be constructed to house groundskeepers as they conduct in-depth site studies. From there, the land-shaping process can begin, including selective clearing, establishing core network connectivity, and the initial planting of trees that will grow to form the long-term shade canopy and shelter for the Muscovy ducks. Although the property would not yet be open to the public, patrons would receive regular updates on each meaningful milestone.
Phase 3: Three bunk houses, the shower house, and security structures are constructed to support a small number of on-site apprentices and residents. Initially, a small laundromat will be co-located within the shower house, and two of the bunk houses will provide recreational and studying spaces. In a later phase, dedicated facilities for these functions will be built, allowing the shower house to expand and enabling the extra bunk houses to be converted into additional sleeping accommodations. A commercial kitchen will also be constructed to support meal‑prep operations, producing a rotating menu of fresh, healthy meals. For sustainability, water reclamation systems will be integrated into the construction of the shower house, laundromat, and kitchen.
Phase 4: Over time tent sites will be created and standard cabins, luxury cabins, a store, and a laundromat constructed. The store will serve as the arrival point for guests, offering front-desk check-in services along with ready-to-eat foods, ready-to-heat meals prepared in the kitchen, a coffee bar, and essential goods for visitors, residents, and the surrounding community. Basic recreational amenities—such as fire pits, nature trails, and bike rentals—are available, while room service through the hospitality television brings convenience.
Phase 5: A bar, restaurant, plunge pool, sauna, hot tubs, and gym expand the recreational offerings and give the grounds a more complete resort atmosphere. The number of tent sites, bunk houses, standard cabins and luxury cabins grow to meet rising demand. Organized excursions, the arcade, the clinic, the hall, and the soccer field are also introduced, further enriching the guest experience.
Phase 6: In support of the growing resident population, dedicated teleworking facilities and support services are introduced, including the library, language classes, and the content creator studio. Additional quality‑of‑life amenities—such as the barber, the adventurer's guild, the pharmacy, and the spa—further round out daily living needs and enhance the overall community experience.

Together, these phases outline how the resort will take shape—but the deeper purpose behind the project goes beyond construction.

Why This Matters

This project exists to create something our community has rarely been offered: a place where we can live, gather, learn, and age with dignity, joy, and belonging. It blends the playful spirit of classic physique culture with the stability of cooperative living, offering an affordable home for travelers, students, veterans, digital nomads, and long‑term residents alike in a rights-secure country. By rooting the resort in sustainability, shared stewardship, and community participation, we're building more than a destination—we're creating a living, evolving sanctuary shaped by the people who call it home. In a world where queer spaces are too often temporary, commercialized, or vulnerable to erasure, this cooperative stands as a deliberate act of preservation, resilience, and care.

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