Returned From Otter Creek (MI)

[ScubaRay]

Returned from Otter Creek and notice a sign saying: Michigan Prohibit Nude Sunbathing. Keep Your Swim Suits On." Too bad I didn't see the sign until I returned to the main part of the beach. The sign is placed in a odd location and those who visit the beach to fully enjoy the water may not even see it. I hadn't notice the sign before so the park ranger may be watching closer but I haven't see any more the last two visit.
Ray

[ScubaRay]

Returned from Otter Creek and notice a sign saying: Michigan Prohibit Nude Sunbathing. Keep Your Swim Suits On." Too bad I didn't see the sign until I returned to the main part of the beach. The sign is placed in a odd location and those who visit the beach to fully enjoy the water may not even see it. I hadn't notice the sign before so the park ranger may be watching closer but I haven't see any more the last two visit.
Ray

[Naturist Mark]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by ScubaRay:
Returned from Otter Creek and notice a sign saying: Michigan Prohibit Nude Sunbathing. Keep Your Swim Suits On." Too bad I didn't see the sign until I returned to the main part of the beach. The sign is placed in a odd location and those who visit the beach to fully enjoy the water may not even see it. I hadn't notice the sign before so the park ranger may be watching closer but I haven't see any more the last two visit.
Ray </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

If that was an official sign it would be prominently placed. I suspect it is the result of prude vigilanteism.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is part of the National Park Service. State of Michigan laws concerning public indecency would only apply if the park service and State have a concurrent jurisdiction agreement for law enforcement on those federal lands. To my knowledge they do not, of a certainly they did not in the recent past. If they do now it has only just been put into effect in the last year or two.

In a December 2003 interview (http://www.nac.oshkosh.net/NAC_Newsletter/NACletter_DEC_2003.pdf) the Park Superintendent affirmed that NPS has no plan or intention to make changes to the traditional nude use within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.


-Mark

[ScubaRay]

Thanks for the link. I do see the park ranger at the access to the beach and once near the nude beach section. I have never had any issue with them. They even are quite friendly as I say Hello to them. This is the first time I have seen the sign posted at the beach.
Ray

[cenfldh]

Does anyone have any updated status info on c/o use at Otter Creek Beach at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan? I found some posts elsewhere online that noted some arrests in summer 2008. Anyone truly knows wazzup? The last posts here are long ago.

[wmichnudists]

Wife and I was there last summer and didn't have any problems but a guy that was there who is a regular said the rangers do come down there occasionally and people have been ticketed. When the wife and I got dressed and went back down to the clothed section we did see 2 rangers but they did not go down to the nude part of the beach.

[cenfldh]

Can anyone tell me exactly where the traditionally used "nude beach" section is? Doing an internet search, some info says it's north of the Esch Road parking area, some info says it's south. There's also great variance in how far it is, everything from "a short walk" to 1-1/2 miles. We are going to the Sleeping Bear Dunes area later this month, and I'd like to go the right direction and the right distance. Thanks for any help anyone can offer.

[Naturist Mark]

Can anyone tell me exactly where the traditionally used "nude beach" section is? Doing an internet search, some info says it's north of the Esch Road parking area, some info says it's south. There's also great variance in how far it is, everything from "a short walk" to 1-1/2 miles. We are going to the Sleeping Bear Dunes area later this month, and I'd like to go the right direction and the right distance. Thanks for any help anyone can offer.

From what I understand (and my info is several years old) the nude section is about a mile north of Esch Rd. To the south of Esch Rd. is a section that is (or has been) traditionally gay, and may have some nudity.

[cenfldh]

Thanks for your help, Naturist Mark.