Eric V. Goode (born December 19, 1957) is an American entrepreneur, conservationist, and filmmaker. He is known as the creator of the art nightclub Area, the Bowery Hotel and the Waverly Inn. Goode is also known for being the founder of the Turtle Conservancy and for producing and directing Tiger King. Biography Born in Rhode Island in 1957 and raised in New York City until the age of 8, Eric V. Goode relocated with his family to California. He is the second of five children born to Marilyn Goode, a naturalist and conservationist, and Fredrick Goode, a painter and teacher. He has lived in New York City since 1977. Eric began his career as an artist, educated at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, and Parsons School of Design. Much of his early work was displayed in group shows with other upcoming artists of the day, the earliest in 1981 which was curated by Keith Haring. He continued to make and show his art throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s. In 1983, Goode formed the nightclub Area. Area was known for its constantly changing themes and collaboration with artists of the time (Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, David Hockney, Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf, and others). Area was Goode's first business venture where he merged art into the context of a nightclub. In the early to mid-1990s, he directed several music videos for bands such as Nine Inch Nails and Robbie Robertson. He and Serge Becker earned a music video production award for their work on "Pinion". Over the next two decades Goode transitioned into restaurants and hotels, many of which in collaboration with his partners Serge Becker and more recently Sean MacPherson. His most recent projects include the Bowery Hotel, the Jane Hotel and the Waverly Inn. Eric Goode currently lives in New York City and California. Nightclubs, restaurants and hotels 1981 – The Club with no Name 1983 – Area 1988 – MK 1989 – BC (LA) 1990 – Time Cafe and Fez 1994 – B Bar & Grill 2000 – The Park 2001 – The Maritime Hotel 2003 – Matsuri (closed) 2003 – La Bottega (closed) 2003 – Hiro Ballroom (closed) 2006 – Waverly Inn 2006 – Lafayette House 2007 – Bowery Hotel 2007 – Gemma 2008 – The Jane Hotel 2014 – Ludlow Hotel Philanthropy and land preservation After a career in the hospitality