Columbia MO

About mid-way between St Louis and Kansas City, Columbia is home to the University of Missouri. In this politically liberal college town, over half the population is said to hold a bachelor's degree. There’s a simmering gay scene, some of it down the road in the town of Boonville.

Getting here

Columbia Regional Airport mostly serves regional carriers. Kansas City International Airport is another option, as is Lambert-St Louis International Airport.

Getting around

Because the gay scene is so spread out, you’ll want to have a car ready. If you're looking for public transportation, see the website of Columbia Transit for bus routes, fares and schedules. Note they run only until 6:30pm Monday-Wednesday, until 9:30pm Thursday-Friday, until 7pm on Saturday, and not at all on Sundays.

Media & Resources

The Center Project (300 Saint James) is central Missouri’s only gay community center. They organize the Mid-Missouri Pride Fest and do film screenings and social nights, in addition to other services, and the website has info about the local gay community.

For students at Mizzou (the University of Missouri) there's the MU LGBTQ Resource Center, with week-day drop-in and hang-out hours 8am-4pm (until 6pm on Wed/Thur), plus various services and resources, including a lending library with hundreds of titles.

The Columbia Missourian and the Columbia Daily Tribune are local newspapers. The local Convention & Visitors Bureau website has information on things to do and see, and the Parks & Recreation website has sports, aquatics, golf and other leisure activities info.

The website of Vox Magazine has good listings for local arts and entertainment, and a comprehensive restaurant guide.

See our map & listings section for locations and websites of businesses listed below.

Going out

Arch & Column Club (1301 Business Loop 70 E, Columbia), cozy, friendly neighborhood glbt bar, karaoke, bear nights.

Megaplex Spa (11674 Old Hwy 40, Boonville), always open for men 18 and over, the only gay bathhouse between St Louis and Denver; private rooms, game room, whirlpools, sauna, tanning, gym, video lounge, pool table, patio and snack bar.

Passions Video (Highway 70, exit 103, Boonville), 20 minutes from Columbia, just off I-70 (exit 103-Route B), large selection of videos and DVDs, Falcon and Bel Ami studios, adult toys, novelties, magazines, lingerie, state-of-the-art arcade, open 24 hours on weekends.

Snapper's (12 S 7th St, Columbia), mixed dive bar, popular with students, cheap drinks, friendly folks, juke box, pool table.

Soco Club (119 S 7th St, Columbia), open daily from 5pm, (6pm Saturday), largest gay nightclub in mid-Missouri; cabaret, dance club, video, and karaoke bar; male reviews and Miss Queen of Columbia pageants keep things hopping. With the university nearby, this is the hangout for many gay, bi, and curious boys. New location downtown as of September 2012, after years at old128 E Nifong location.