Visiting A Nudist Colony

When they hear the title Nudist Colony, most people assume the place is some kind of a sex cult full of pervs and orgies. So how did nudity end up equalling sex? You don’t even have to be completely naked to have sex. And yet the idea of nudity as sex has infiltrated society in all aspects, from songs to advertisements to television shows.

But does enjoying nudity mean you are overtly sexual? Not at all. The biblical characters of Adam and Eve were the original nudists. A nudist is defined by Google as a person who engages in the practice of going naked wherever possible. This means doing everyday activities nude, like gardening, swimming, playing sports, eating, and more. Is sex an everyday activity? If you’re lucky, yes.

But there are certain practices in the nudist lifestyle that help to separate nudism and sex. Safety, privacy, respect, and an appreciation for leisure are all elements of a nudist lifestyle no matter what colony, camp, beach, or resort you visit.

So what is a day at a nudist colony like? Well, as you pull onto the long gravel drive in the middle of western Illinois cornfields, it seems like you may be entering a private campground. A stranger to nudism might not expect to see a security gate, with a buzzer, barring your entrance. A member would have their provided key to gain entry into this little sliver of paradise called Blue Lake Nudist Resort.

After visitors check in at the office and pass the required security check, they are given a tour of the grounds. There are two sand volleyball courts, petanque courts, horseshoes, shuffleboard, a trampoline, a kids playground, and a clubhouse. In the clubhouse, you can find the jacuzzi, cafe, and ancient television set.

Blue Lake is a small park compared to other nudist resorts in the United States and Europe. It looks like a regular campground with the exception of bare bottoms and breasts roaming the grounds. Many people enjoy the relaxing, family atmosphere as they soak up the sun on the deck or float around the lake. Every nudist resort is different, and many have pools rather than lakes. Some even have both!

As you enter the camp nestled down in its own little valley, you look down onto the peaceful lake and sites below. And realize your tour guide is waiting for you to drop your trousers and get naked. Blue Lake is NOT a clothing optional resort, as some may be. Rule #1: When you are there, you are expected to be nude.

Despite feeling at first like everyone is looking at you, you’re quickly distracted by the homey trailers and cheerful flowers that line the neat gravel path. Your tour guide tells you that several elderly couples take care of the flowers and gardening around the camp. Instead of trying to overtake nature, they have taken what nature provided and made beautiful, idyllic sitting areas and walking paths throughout the campground.

Wandering the paths you note that although some trailers are more taken care of than others, each one has its own special charm. The spunky, friendly tour guide, who you have discovered is also one of the park owners, tells you about the people who own or rent the trailers. She even introduces you to several of them as you’re walking around the several paths of the park. She only uses first names, reiterating the element of privacy and safety, keeping members protected and private from what can be a grim, pressure-laden outside world.

One of the wonderful ladies provides fresh-baked cookies to the kids once a summer. A couple provides DJ services for when the resort hosts dances and events. Another couple runs the cafe. There are plumbers, teachers, lawyers, singers, stay-at-home parents, businessmen, and artists who call this nudist colony a home. You hear someone offer a beer to a friend. A group of people are grilling out for lunch near a trailer. There’s an American flag waving in the wind next to a bald eagle statue in front of another trailer. You see an amazingly diverse community thriving on respect for the differences between them.

Your guide drops you off and speeds away on a souped up golf cart with wheels that are nearly eye level. You are on the clubhouse deck in the middle of the park, so you choose a lounge chair facing the pond and drape your towel over it. Rule #2: You must always carry a towel at a nudist camp.

Taking a quick glimpse around, you notice that no one is looking at you. Everyone is either socializing with someone else, reading a book, or sleeping in the sun. A mother is smearing sunscreen on her young child trying to escape and run through the sandy beach to the pond. Rule #3: You can never put on too much sunscreen.

After you’ve sprayed yourself with sunscreen, you feel comfortable enough to lay back and relax, just soaking up the sun. Every now and then with the breeze, you get a misting of spray from the tall fountain that shoots from the center of the pond. Sensing your comfort, some of the regular members might approach you and strike up conversation. Someone will ask if you’d like to play volleyball, petanque, or any number of yard games or organized activities. The event calendar varies weekly, but nudists tend to be social creatures so there’s always something going on.

If you decide to stay the night, you find that some nudists enjoy a small, private campfire while others enjoy a social bonfire. Some are early risers and some are night owls. Certain trailers are known for hosting parties and social events, although many times it rotates. There are picnic tables and porches full of people who are just enjoying each others’ company. People may be out walking, or sitting in their trailers watching TV.

As you crawl into your tent, or key into your on-grounds motel room after whatever night of fun you’ve had, you realize there may be more to this lifestyle than rumors and assumptions have led you to believe. Nudity doesn’t always have to mean sex. So when you get the chance, take a risk and visit a nudist colony, camp, resort, park, beach, whatever. I can almost guarantee you won’t regret it.