A Nudist Halloween Tale?

What did we get into?! We originally published a story by Jerry Troeger, owner of Bonita Nudist Resort in New York state, which prompted a reader to give her own version of the events he made reference to in his piece, which did not mention anybody by name. The original author wasted no time in writing a rebuttal, which we publish below. Nudist Day isn’t usually the right venue for this sort of back ‘n forth finger pointing, and thus this was the first and last time we will try to be that democratic! We give the Troegers the final say because it is their club and their livelihood, after all.

THE HORRORS OF FALL, by Jerry Troeger

It’s fall again, season of change, strange beauty and tall tales. It’s the season of All Soul’s Eve, when spineless monsters creep from their lairs spinning their webs of deceit causing fear and confusion in the hearts of men. The time of year when recurring evil roams freely, seeking to capture the souls of all who wander into their path. We know their names, yet for the time being and sake of decency we dare not speak them. They prey upon what they no longer have or lust for from the darkest corners of their hearts. They disfigure truths, challenge the very limits of credible reason in their quest to haunt and terrorize. They know no limits save that of their own consciences (which, like migrating fowl, seem to have gone south for the winter). They are here, in our midst, even as we speak…

We therefore challenge you, the reader, to come see first hand the horrors of Bonita. Witness imaginary “windowless” cabins, undersized pipes, and the pool that never seems to be open long enough. Hear phones ringing in the night, not to be answered until the dawn of the day. Observe the invisible landscaping at the lake. Sense the specter of former owners lurking in bushes just beyond your reach. Read for yourself the countless atrocities reported by the Tioga County Board of Health. Hear the wails of these departed souls crying in the wind….

Now that I have your attention. I would like to address the letter written by Diane. This person has wisely elected not to use her last name so we won’t either. We’ll play along and afford her whatever shred of dignity still remains after reading her story. Normally, I would not even respond to this kind of rhetoric, especially when identities are thinly masked. It demonstrates lack of credibility and conviction. Peoples’ opinions are their own. But when they are put on a public forum, especially when they are misguided and designed solely to take aim at a person’s livelihood and family, I strongly take issue.

The author states: “…The phony complaints to the board of health were far from phony“.
Fact: In the three years we have owned this camp, no violation of any kind, whether it be for food, water or sanitary conditions was ever issued. Anyone can contact the Tioga County Board of Health at (607) 687-8565 for verification. It is a matter of public record. These people are professionals, dedicated to protecting the health and safety of the public. They do their job.

The author states: “The water system is still plagued by problems but maybe it is because he (the owner) insisted on using undersized pipes, not sabotage…”
Fact: The water system specs, pipe size included, were drawn up by a professional engineer employed by Martin Plumbing in Owego NY, (607) 687-1295, copy of proposal available to all by request. Unless Diane states she was actually here for the 2007 season, which we believe she was not, she has no first-hand knowledge about the performance of the camp plumbing. I also never mentioned anything about “sabotage” in my article. Why did she?

The author states: “One member and his son constructed a staircase to connect the upper and lower level…”
Fact: This “anonymous” member she refers to also has a wife named Diane. (Coincidence?). He and his son were paid the amount they requested to do the work. Although quite fair, it wasn’t a freebie as the author inferred. Nor was most anything else that was done around here. Compensations were given in cash, reduced seasonal rates, free trailer storage, food, or pounds of flesh as the author is intending to do in her letter.

The author states: “..The trash dumpster was removed…and members were told to take their trash with them…”
Fact: The dumpster we had was frequently overloaded by campers (seasonals and transients alike), leaving refuse on top of it, next to it and behind it when full, only to have the forest animals tear it apart through the night. It became a visual nightmare and a potential health issue. We tried to reason with people but to no avail, so we had it removed.

Fact: What Diane conveniently forgets to mention is that, right in our seasonal leasing agreement, it states that: “Management will dispose of normal kitchen garbage only for any person…at no charge…” (Seasonal contract, item # 13. Copy to anyone upon request).

Our Ford pick up truck then became the camp dumpster and Diane and practically everyone else in camp deposited their own refuse in there many times. But if she mentioned THIS in her article, she’d really look foolish, so I understand the short-term memory again.

The author states: “…the loss of Fawn Hall, which used to be the camp’s only indoor social center…”
Fact: “Used to be” is exactly the point. We expanded the clubhouse dining area after our first season to compensate for the re-appropriation of space in Fawn hall. We also built a game room/common area in the old owner’s residence which includes a stove, refrigerator, microwave, pool table, satellite TV, two rental rooms and sitting area. Diane probably knows this but conveniently elected not to make the connection. For the sake of her article, it served her better to mention what was taken away, not what was added.

And as far as how much we have spent here above and beyond the selling price, since no one has put their noses in our checkbook, they have no idea how much we have invested. And besides, it’s none of anyone’s damned business anyway. They don’t own the place. We do. And I think herein lies the root of the problem she and her constituents have with us.

I could continue to debunk this literary farce but it has taken up more of my time than it deserves already. I hadn’t planned on breaking my ankle our first season. And as I said in my original article, from our hearts we truly thank all those who helped us in our time of need. But as I also said previously, in some cases there would be a price tag on this too. Well, here is the proof.

So, as this same crew of malcontents continue to repeat the same negative rhetoric in various forms, each taking their respective turns at stirring the pot, I can only suggest to them that it is time to move on and grow up. It’s been three years already. Life is short. You reside in Arizona and Texas and possibly Arkansas now. There are other places to haunt. Spin your webs somewhere else. And although I have never been paranoid of people “lurking in the bushes” I am wary of snakes in the grass. That’s why we keep the picks and shovels handy.

Happy Halloween.

Jerry and Annie Troeger
Bonita Resort

A reader named Diane recently contacted Nudist Day, upset by “The Summer From Hell!”, a story contributed by Jerry Troeger, owner of Bonita Nudist Resort near Binghampton, New York, that recounts the events around the time he and his wife Annie purchased the club. Diane claims to represent other former members of the club and we publish her entire letter below as we’re a democratic publication and value our readers’ opinions. That said, Nudist Day does not take sides in such disputes, and Diane’s comments do not in any way reflect our opinions.

We, and a number of other former members of Bonita Nudist Resort, recently read the article “The Summer From Hell!” written by Jerry Troeger published on Nudist Day’s web site – and our collective jaws are still down to the floor. The article cannot go unanswered as it slaps the face of so many members who did so much backbreaking, and sometimes dangerous, work to help the Troegers realize their dream. The dream of becoming the new “caretakers” (a term of their choosing) of a truly beautiful, peaceful and unique setting that only Nature can provide.

Yes, the Troegers’ bought Buckridge Nudist Park and renamed it Bonita Nudist Resort and yes, there were a lot of upgrades needed and yes, Jerry fell from a tree and broke his ankle, but that is were fact ends and fiction begins. First, respect is certainly due to the previous owners as it is they who made Bonita what it is today. Cap & Carol Preston made many capital investments, constructing all of the camps current amenities including the hot tub (recent neglect risks its continued use) the petanque courts (now tracts of weeds), and the pool (which used to be open ALL the time and not by request). Except for 3 small windowless sheds currently being used as “cabins”, and some investments for required upgrades and maintenance the Troegers’ have not made any capital investments.

Second, the attempt at forming a co-op was hosted and ran by the Troegers. There were no red flags to be raised here – it was (amicably) obvious to everyone that this would not be a viable solution. I guess it should be mentioned here that the hosts of this meeting were constantly paranoid that the current owners had a spy hidden in the bushes listening to our every word – maybe he was right about the red flags!

Third, before the new caretakers could even think about opening their doors, there was a laundry list of items that needed to be addressed before a license would be issued. This list, that came only a few weeks before opening, was quickly made public to the many seasonal members who traditionally come to camp early to help with preparing their sites for the coming season. These members, without hesitation, took on not only the major projects on that list but also branch collection, raking and mowing of the entire camp, etc. I wonder why none of this was mentioned in Jerry’s article?

Ok, so now it’s a few weeks after the camp opens and Jerry mentions of a “meeting”. Here are some points to put some perspective on what was discussed prior to and at that meeting: The phone calls regarding the lack of water only started after repeated requests and a week without water; The calls were made at 5 am because the phone would constantly go unanswered during normal business hours; Their teenage children were not just in the office, they were at times, running it and yes – this is not appropriate; With SO many critically important things to attend to – like the office – maybe the garden shouldn’t have been a top priority. Also, according to the members that were at the meeting, although there were comments directed at Annie they weren’t racial slurs.

Continuing through Jerry’s article - The “phony complaints to the board of health” were far from phony. In fact Jerry, afraid to respond personally, offered incriminating information to another member who at great personal risk agreed to write letters to quell the situation. Furthermore, he was so paranoid that this member would try to do harm to his wife that several other members made special trips (some several hours away) to Bonita to make sure Annie was not alone when Jerry went to work.

“In all fairness, there were several members that took pity on us and did much to help and we thank them. But in some cases, there was a price tag on this too.” This is perhaps the statement that hurts the former members the most. When Jerry broke his ankle most of the members wanted and willingly jumped right in. They not only took care of the normal daily tasks, but also took on major projects. Not out of pity, but out of love for the park and the people that “live” there. One of the guys, who had done SO much for the park prior to and after Jerry & Annie bought the place, took on major electrical and plumbing projects worth thousands of dollars while his wife was always willing to help in the office and event planning. This same couple, former AANR officials, managed the snack bar offering many a mouthwatering meal. The price for THIS help? They were thought to be saboteurs and eventually told that they were not welcome at the park. The price to the rest of the members: An expanded dining area with a snack bar that was no more – unless you gave 24 hours notice that you wanted a hamburger or hot dog. The highest price here?: The loss of two of the most hardworking and fun members.

In all fairness, the water system is still plagued by problems, but maybe it’s because he insisted on using undersized pipe and not because of sabotage. The water system, by the way, was installed by the son of another member - a member who sustained a serious injury while performing HIS “pity” help. This injury was so serious that the member risked permanent disability. Fortunately after surgery and rehab he recovered - without seeking any retribution from Jerry. Here is some of the other help that so many members (both seasonal and associate) did for Jerry and the park: Drainage system at the lake, landscaping at the lake, help moving Jerry & Annie’s furniture from their previous house to their new residence. The price for this? - the loss of Fawn Hall, which used to be the camps only indoor social center. One member and his son constructed a staircase to connect the upper and lower level so that the Troegers had access to their kitchen and bathrooms without having to walk the outside perimeter of the building, while two other members took care of drainage problems to their new home. Other members converted the old game room into 2 rental rooms while still others helped with pool maintenance and so much more. Members gladly helped with the routine activities to run the camp since Annie had to drive Jerry’s tool truck so he could work while his ankle healed. Members did all of this not because they were asked but because they WANTED to – out of love not pity. The price here??? The trash dumpster was removed and members were told to take their trash with them many of whom stay for extended periods followed by a several hour (long) trip home. Hmmm… The red flags are really flying now.

Although this has already seemed like a lot for some people to read, this needed to be said. And, trust us, there is so much more that could have been added here. Perhaps the saddest of all is that the “troublemakers” that Jerry mentions in his article are the very same members that did all of this work. It seemed that the more a member did the more Jerry sought to drive them out. Is it any wonder that, without exception, we are now all former members?
So if there were lessons to be learned, they were learned by the members. As we have all moved on we take comfort in knowing that not all camp owners are like the Troegers. Bonita means beautiful and this tranquil place certainly lives up to its name but it’s not because of the Troegers, it’s in spite of them.

Jerry Troeger’s Original Story

When I first visited the Sunsport Gardens nudist resort in Loxahatchee, Florida back in 2001, the club had an air I could only describe as “Dukes of Hazzard”. The place was overgrown with weeds, there were abandoned vehicles strewn about, the “lake” was a swamp, the trails had turned to jungle, etc. Later that year, Morley Schloss, a self-confessed flower child who first discovered social nudity at Woodstock, bought the place and set it on a new course, guided by his spiritual, ecological and naturist principles.

Last week Nudist Day revisited the resort and found enormous improvements. At the entrance were brand new offices, where visitors check-in and are given a sense that this is a really a resort. The grounds are well tended and all the facilities have been renovated. The notable exception is the clubhouse, which still maintains too much of the rundown, dirty look of the original club. Schloss would love to knock down the building and construct a better one, but budget constraints don’t permit it at this time. The nature trails were in good shape with the addition of signs pointing-out the different species of plants and trees. There is a wide variety of fruit trees on the grounds, some of them quite exotic, which provide the resort’s health-conscious restaurant with all the fresh fruit it needs.

Schloss, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, made efforts to keep his club environmentally-friendly. For instance, the swimming pool’s water is kept warm thanks to solar water heaters that cover the roof of one building. Schloss also espouses strong nudist values: A sign at the entrance stresses the fact that visitors are expected to be nude. He also demands that resort staff be nude, or at least top-free in the case of female employees. As if to illustrate this policy, Schloss ordered a neophyte employee who was nervous about getting nude to get out of the view of my camera as I snapped photos of the reception area.

Schloss almost seemed angry when I asked him what he thought of the mainstream media’s recent contention that nudists are getting old and aren’t succeeding in attracting the younger generations. According to him, there’s no shortage of young people visiting Sunsport, the draw being it’s safe family-oriented atmosphere. Although Woodstock was as renown for its drugs as for its music, Schloss does not allow drugs to be consumed on his grounds, and doesn’t sell any alcohol, although visitors can bring in their own. Otherwise, Sunsport generally has very progressive policies, welcoming all singles and treating gay couples as such.
Schloss is also the resort’s father figure, as I witnessed firsthand as a female patron sought his advice on legal matters. Coincidentally, he’s actively involved in the Naturist Action Committee, defending nudist interests in Florida. Finally, Schloss is a spiritual person: He’s the organizer of the Northeast Naturist Festival, which will take place August 7-12, 2007, at the Empire Haven nudist club in central New York State. The event includes a large number of spiritual activities.
The resort has all the requisite amenities, including economically priced rental units. Among the latter, I elected to spend the night in one of the pop-up campers on offer. At 45 dollars, it was a steal, until I discovered that I would be donating about a half-gallon of blood to the hordes of mosquitoes. The other defect of this type of accommodation is that they have no bathrooms. Using the common showers and bathrooms is usually fine in a nudist resort, but not when you have to trudge 1000 feet down a dark road full of little vampires! Luckily, there are two nice fully-equipped cabins available as well. Schloss told me that within days he was going to have free wireless internet for patrons, which should please those of us who have to stay connected.

Sunsport Gardens is the nudist club nearest to the Miami and West Palm Beach areas, thus making it a good place to stop along Interstate 95 or the Florida Turnpike. It’s located several miles west along Okeechobee Boulevard in Palm county, and then north a few miles via unpaved roads (D road, then North Road). It’s not so easy to find, however, as there are no signs pointing the way except at the entrance to the club itself. Perhaps this discretion was necessary in view of the numerous conservative Bible camps in the area.

Related Sites:

• Sunsport Gardens web site

Meet Cheri Alexander, the founder of Travelites, a non-landed club which for 13 years has brought nudists together in Columbia, South Carolina. We asked her about what it takes to manage such a club…

Nudist Day: Gives us an idea of how membership has grown, or not. How many active members now?
Cheri Alexander: When it started, we struggled to maintain 25, now total membership fluctuates between 80 and 100 depending on peoples’ finances and what else they’ve got going on in their lives. In every organization there is a core group of about 20.

ND: You say you welcome everybody who wants to join, including singles “of good character”. How do you establish they have good character?
CA: I meet prospective members prior to inviting them to an event at a neutral environment. I am pretty good at judging people. Travelites, Inc. is now in its 21st year, and I’ve only had to cancel two memberships in all that time.

” I also welcome singles and will, if asked, contact a club asking admittance for that member ahead of time…”

ND: If an event takes place in a member’s home, does the member hosting the event set the rules, such as whom may attend?
CA: All members are invited to all events.

ND: Would you say a non-landed club is a better way for people to meet and bond than simply visiting clubs and resorts on their own?
CA: The members tend to be an extended family. I’ve met plenty of good people at landed clubs and resorts who are long-time friends. People who are members of a non-landed club often gather for non-nudist events as well.

ND: Does your group ever engage in naturist activism?
CA: I am the activist among the members. I’ve spoken in front of our state legislature many times, twice this legislative session.

ND: Is there a cost to join, or is it per event?
CA: Annual Travelites’ dues is $60 for a full membership plus $2 regular event. When we have our annual canoe trip, and members would like to rent a vessel, I have to charge for that. Some events such as our Thanksgiving Feast, the club supplies the turkey. At some events there is no event fee; it depends on what it is. There is also an Associate membership allowing people who live greater than 200 miles join for less.

Photo courtesy of Travelites ©
ND: Are events generally clothing optional or is nudity obligatory?
CA: If it’s a person’s first time, he or she can wear a towel or pareo wrapped around them. No clothes are allowed in any of the members’ hot tubs or pools. If someone is feeling chilled, they are welcome to wear something. It’s a nudist club, but it is understood that there might be times when a person for whatever reasons wants to stay clothed. I just need to be told.

ND: What’s your policy towards members who behave incorrectly?
CA: There is zero tolerance. Even in the club’s rules/regulations it states: “Excessive drinking, profanity, obscene or vulgar language, offensive familiarity, and indiscreet behavior are prohibited and may invoke revocation of membership. If such behavior is demonstrated by a prospective member, that person will not be offered membership nor welcome to additional events.”

ND: What are some of the plans for the future?
CA: Personally, I hope to be able to afford a pool within the next few years to offer members another option. We do have a hot tub on our property. Right now only two members have homes with pools. I would like to continue to grow. We do have a substantial number of members who live greater than 200 miles from Columbia, SC for a couple of reasons. The first being is that I market wholesome nudism positively across the net and off the net. I also welcome singles and will, if asked, contact a club asking admittance for that member ahead of time.

Related Sites:

• Travelites web site

Robin Renee is a professional recording artist and performer from Philadelphia who also happens to be a naturist and spiritual person. She joined forces with Dan Speers, nude yoga teacher in New Jersey, to bring to life the first naturist kirtan. We asked Renee to tell us more about kirtan and her music…

Nudist Day: Explain in the briefest and simplest terms, what you do in a kirtan event.
Robin Renee: Kirtan is an amazing practice - It is a call-and-response chanting of what are called the Holy Names, in this case, in Sanskrit from the Hindu tradition. There are many ways to talk about and think about the words we sing during kirtan. I like to experience them as many flavors of the highest love. The repetition of the sounds brings about a sense of peace and Oneness, begins to create a kind of synergy between the essence of the Name and those singing. So, singing kirtan is a way we have the opportunity to move closer to our true nature. It may be an odd-sounding concept to someone who is unfamiliar with contemplative practices like meditation and yoga, but the beauty of it is that you don’t have to come from a certain spiritual tradition, or even believe in anything in particular, to listen to and sing kirtan and feel something from the experience.
I have been writing and recording alt-folk/singer-songwriter type music for quite a while and at first, integrating my relatively newly discovered love of mantra with the rest of my music came as a bit of a surprise and a challenge to me. I am glad that Live Devotion finally emerged—it is my first CD that is really dedicated to sacred chant.

ND: When and how did you and Dan Speers connect and hatch the idea of a naturist kirtan?
RR: I happened to run across a discussion group online for people interested in nude yoga in Philadelphia. When I joined the list and sent my intro, I mentioned that I sing kirtan, because it is a form of bhakti yoga. Dan saw my post and wrote to me to say that he holds nude yoga in his Northern New Jersey studio and asked if I’d be willing to lead clothing-optional kirtan. I said sure, why not? I was a little apprehensive at first because I suspected that some members of spiritual communities would not understand practicing kirtan in this way, and I would not want my chanting in this context to be taken as at all disrespectful.

Photo of Robin Renee by Jenn Phillips, all rights reserved.
ND: Does being nude actually make a kirtan better or is this just a way for nudists to enjoy their lifestyle all the while doing something new?
RR: I personally find kirtan to be a deeply internal experience. If one loses oneself in the singing, what anyone is wearing or not wearing really becomes immaterial, I think (That wasn’t supposed to be a pun.). For some, being nude may be helpful to move through body issues or to feel more fully present with the chanting, I don’t know. I am familiar with other spiritual traditions where nudity feels more integral to the practice. In my case, I have been drawn toward naturism since I was a kid, so combining that with kirtan sounded good to me, and so far it has been wonderful.

ND: What are some of the comments you’ve received from people who participated in a naturist kirtan?
RR: So far people really love it. I don’t remember specific comments, but it has attracted nice groups of people who are naturists, some who are familiar with chanting, and some who are trying it for the first time. There have also been a few who are familiar with yoga in various forms and the event has been a first encounter with naturism. It has made for an interesting cultural exchange.

ND: Are you doing naturist kirtans only with Dan Speers? Where else?
RR: I have on occasion sung at festivals where there are clothing-optional policies so people are free to show up however they happen to be in the moment, but Dan’s studio is the only place I know of that has designed a purposeful gathering to bring the two experiences together.

ND: Tells us a bit about your music career outside of the kirtan realm.
RR: Well, that’s a long story! The short version is that as a solo artist I have released two CDs before Live Devotion – In Progress and All Six Senses. I manage my own label, Menage a Music. I do a lot of travel and live performance, this year more than ever, which feels great. Around the time of All Six Senses, I was going through some awakening kinds of experiences that lead me to start putting my toe in the waters of spiritual singing. I eventually couldn’t stay tentative about it, so I suppose I dove in with Live Devotion. I wound up calling what I do Mantra-Pop, because I wanted to understand my work as integrated. It feels good that whatever and wherever I’m singing, sacred and secular don’t feel so separate anymore.

ND: What are your plans for the future?
RR: I’m kind of pleasantly amazed that the CD is out there now, so I want to do the best I can by singing wherever I can and helping people to know about it. Of course, new songs have been percolating for a while as well as a book idea or two, so I hope those start making it to the page soon. I would like to find more help this year, and to get out of the music biz office and more into the creative space. I plan to continue spiritual immersion however I can – to study wisdom from all over the world, to deepen meditation, to meet those who know and share love.

August 4, 2007, Robin Renee will perform her third naturist kirtan at Dan Speer’s yoga studio. For more information, follow link below.

Related Stories:

• Interview with Dan Speers

Related Links:

• Robin Renee’s web site
• Robin Renee’s kirtan discussion group
• Naturist Kirtan [Dan Speers]
• Live Devotion CD [CD Baby]