why no landed club in chicago?

[NekkidAl]

Just wondering why there are no landed clubs in the Chicago metropolitan area? Chicago is one of the largest cities in the U.S. and I'm sure there are plenty of people who would patronize such a place.

Sure there are a couple places that are "only" 90 minutes away. With tight family schedules though, a 3-hour round trip is a big chunk of day!

Are there local laws preventing the establishment of a landed naturist club/resort/meeting-place? Has there ever been a Chicago club? Again, I mean a landed club -- somewhere anyone interested could go to and spend a day or a couple hours without waiting for a non-landed group to have a monthly field trip or whatever.

Sorry for the small rant, but it's cold and snowing here in practically the middle of April and I WANT WARM WEATHER D*MN IT!!! Warm weather and a place to enjoy it.

Thank you for listening. The end.

[NekkidAl]

Just wondering why there are no landed clubs in the Chicago metropolitan area? Chicago is one of the largest cities in the U.S. and I'm sure there are plenty of people who would patronize such a place.

Sure there are a couple places that are "only" 90 minutes away. With tight family schedules though, a 3-hour round trip is a big chunk of day!

Are there local laws preventing the establishment of a landed naturist club/resort/meeting-place? Has there ever been a Chicago club? Again, I mean a landed club -- somewhere anyone interested could go to and spend a day or a couple hours without waiting for a non-landed group to have a monthly field trip or whatever.

Sorry for the small rant, but it's cold and snowing here in practically the middle of April and I WANT WARM WEATHER D*MN IT!!! Warm weather and a place to enjoy it.

Thank you for listening. The end.

[Al Bundy]

I agree. The closest landed club that I am aware of is a place in Woodstock IL (sorry, cannot remember the name), but it is for couples and single females only.

[sliver]

NekkidAl; I too share your frustration with lack of local facilities. Although the Ponderosa is only a 40 min drive, I would like to see a landed club somewhat closer to Aurora.

However, if I were to win the lotto tonight, I would locate a resort somewhere between Springfield and St.Louis, MO. There are currently NO facilities anywhere near this area. Ripe for the picking.

I have a college degree in marketing. This is a viable option. Anyone else?? Rick

[Guest]

I have the same question about the NYC area - nothing for at least 40 miles from the GWB...

[gymnoboi]

its that way in every major city.. land costs so much that setting a large portion aside its cost prohibitive. You have to go almost 40 miles from Los Angeles. In large cities the best best is nude social clubs that meet in rented facilities or peopels houses

[chgonude77]

We should start our own club in Chicago!

[MJ_KC]

quote:

Originally posted by sliver:
However, if I were to win the lotto tonight, I would locate a resort somewhere between Springfield and St.Louis, MO.

I take it that you mean Springfield, IL. There is a Springfield, MO down I-44 from St. Louis, MO.

[Naturist Mark]

Nudist resorts tend to be located in the sticks. The bigger the city, the farther away the sticks.

-Mark

[David77]

Just an hours drive from Chicago is Lake O' the Woods Nudist Resort in Valparaiso Indiana which many persons from Chicago go to, convieniently. I have been there and it is very nice.

Lake O' The Woods
Quote:
"Welcome all ye who seek sunshine and rest for here they are abundant", is the unofficial greeting of Lake O' The Woods Club, and it's hard to turn down such a warm invitation. Established in 1933, the family-oriented co-op also offers modern facilities and a year-round calendar of events for those Midwesterners suffering from cabin fever.

Located about an hour from Chicago, Lake O' the Woods in Valparaiso rests on 130 wooded acres. Facilities include a clubhouse with guest kitchen, modern restrooms, co-ed showers, sauna, two fireplaces, meeting room and large entertainment kitchen.

During summer months, visitors can enjoy a 20-acre lake for sunning, swimming and fishing. Stretch out with a good book on one of two sand beaches or explore the lake via rowboat, canoe or paddleboat. A heated swimming pool, year-round hot tub, paved tennis courts, sand volleyball court and children's play area are also available.

Visitors can tent, RV or rent a cabin. Please note the club does not accept credit cards. For rates and directions, visit http://www.lowc.org or write: LOWC, P.O. 53-W, Valparaiso, IN 46383.

[usuallylurk]

quote:

Originally posted by chgonude77:
We should start our own club in Chicago!

There already are two non-landed clubs listed with AANR -

http://www.aanr.com/stateclubs/aanr-il.html

Before starting a club in any area, take note that there may already be a club operating where you are.

We recently had a dialog with someone in Maine who wanted to start a new group in the Portland area, and he admitted that he was completely unaware that there was one that regularly held gatherings less that 40 miles from him. He had heard of the Maine Coast Solar Bares but wasn't aware that they met nearby.

One of the reasons that there are few clubs with facilities and grounds near major urban areas is -- as correctly identified by gymnoboi, is the cost of real estate. If you were to start a landed club in Chicagoland, it would cost you millions.

In fact, many suburban clubs have folded their doors because their owners were offered millions for the land -- that may have been a dirt patch way the heck out in the middle of the woods when they started out. In most cases, the only clubs that have survived in major population centers are cooperatively held (member-owned and operated) clubs.

[NekkidAl]

Okay... so if purchasing/maintaining land for an actual club in the big city is cost prohibitive, what about petitioning for a (smallish) stretch of beach? It could even have structure/forest/whatever built up around it to, ahem, protect the privacy of those who would attend the beach as well as cater to the sensitivities of those who would not want to see it. Maybe a spot on Northerly Island or someplace a little less "visible" in the location sense?

Just more ponderings on it. Anyone know if this has been attempted in Chicago (or other major metropolitan areas) and, if they have, why they've been shot down?

[usuallylurk]

quote:

Originally posted by NekkidAl:
Just more ponderings on it. Anyone know if this has been attempted in Chicago (or other major metropolitan areas) and, if they have, why they've been shot down?

Hanlon's Beach in Toronto.

There was sex segreagated nude swimming at the L-Street Bathhouse and Beach (municipal) in Boston for years.

You could try petitioning. Be prepared for disappointment.

[David77]

quote:

Anyone know if this has been attempted in Chicago (or other major metropolitan areas) and, if they have, why they've been shot down?

Hippie Hollow on Travis Lake Texas adjacent to Austin Texas.

http://www.hippiehollow.com

[sunaddicted]

quote:

Originally posted by NekkidAl:
Okay... so if purchasing/maintaining land for an actual club in the big city is cost prohibitive, what about petitioning for a (smallish) stretch of beach? It could even have structure/forest/whatever built up around it to, ahem, protect the privacy of those who would attend the beach as well as cater to the sensitivities of those who would not want to see it. Maybe a spot on Northerly Island or someplace a little less "visible" in the location sense?

Just more ponderings on it. Anyone know if this has been attempted in Chicago (or other major metropolitan areas) and, if they have, why they've been shot down?

Haulover Beach in Miami Beach. Its a great place and the developers are salivating.