Say hello to tan lines -- San Onofre's nude beach is about to be busted

Clothing-optional for decades, the nude beach at San Onofre is about to get a visit from the (fully-dressed, we're betting) law. The O.C. Register has the skinny:

Trail 6 is a secluded area abutting Camp Pendleton property where beachgoers can let it all hang out – literally. The 1,000-foot beach, one of few "clothing-optional" beaches – with a lax approach to nudity, has been a safe haven for "naturists" for decades.

That might change in the next month, as the state sets out to crack down on nudity at the beach, in a move that has some longtime locals fuming and worrying about where they'll go. State Parks will start an educational period Sunday, warning beachgoers of the change, and start citing July 1, officials said.

What's a nudist to do? Some answers here. (And yes, there's a naked derriere on the site.) And the photo? It's of Peter J. McConville, au natural in the 1940s, as befitting the founder of SoCal's first nudist resort near Lake Elsinore.

-- Veronique de Turenne

Archival photo: Los Angeles Times

 

Comments

[Kevin Mark]

I have enjoyed clothing optional use of San Onofre beach in the past, and hope to in the future. Please save San Onofre!

[RICK AND CAROL]

MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN GOING TO THE NUDIST BEACH SOUTH OF TRAIL 6 AT SAN ONOFRE BEACH FOR OVER 10 YEARS, WE LOVE GOING TO THAT BEACH AND PLAYING VOLLEYBALL AND HANGING OUT WITH OUR FREINDS, THE SECTION FROM THE WASH TO WHERE THE FENCE BEGINS AT CAMP PENDELTON IS A PLACE OF REFUGE FROM THE DAILY GRIND OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. YOU WILL MEET SOME OF THE NICEST AND MORALLY DECENT PEOPLE YOU WOULD EVER MEET IN YOUR LIFE. THE MAJORITY ARE REGULARS WHO HELP PATOL THE BEACH IN THE OFF SEASON AND KEEP THE BEACH CLEAN. MANY OF US WORK ON THE TRAILS TO MAKE IT SAFER TO TRANSVERSE AND IN THE PROCESS HOPEFULLY SO LIFEGUARDS WON'T HAVE TO MAKE RESCUES. HECK, WE ARE EVEN TRYING TO COMFORM TO NEW THE ALCHOHOL BAN. (THATS HARD)

MY SUGGESTION IS TO KEEP THE STATUS QUO AND SEND UNDERCOVER OFFICERS
TO BUST ANY PERSONS INVOLVED IN LEWD ACTIVITY, ALMOST ALL OF THIS ACTIVITY
OCCURS ON CAMP PENDELTON PROPERTY AND IT USUALLY INVOLVES

[Gregory Falk]

You'd think the Governor's office would spend more time addressing the state's debt than worry about some folks undressing and bothering nobody. Maybe if they taxed nudists?

[Bison]

Let them keep their nudist beaches - that way the nudists may keep away from normal families. Just make sure their beaches have high walls or fences around them, they have big warning signs erected and they are well away from beaches the rest of us use.

[Jay]

This is sad. There is a healthy family atmosphere here and the male on male cruising has ruined it for everyone....... I enjoy this beach come summer and when not with my fiance' I get looked over and bothered by guys who just can not keep to themselves. Sad news.

[Don A.]

Sounds like the Redneck Fascist Pigs are at it again trying to impose their moral views on everyone. Welcome to the second coming of the victorian era

[P]

While I think it's a shame that they are doing this. The people commenting here that the reason why all this is happening is because of male-on-male cruising. I have seen plenty of multiple male on single female action. I have seen people recording full on sex between male and female. Now I am not complaining, live and let live. All I ask is that the finger pointing be either ended or pointed at all.

[alfredo]

I believe in a FREE USA: If you are not exposing yourself to unwilling children or even adults you have a GOD given right to go nude anywhere within reason especially on a beach where people are PRACTICALLY nude!! Why not crack down on THONGS and tineey weeny small bekinees WHAT HYPOCRISY we have in this country!! Look to Europethey are in the 21st C while we are in the NEOLITHIC when it comes to sex and other related issues!! For Pete's sake grow up USA!!
The beach is ISOLATED with cliffs and the barbed wire of Camp Pendelton, why would any children or even adult want to be there against their will??I could understand if the beach was in an area of heavy traffic etc!! Let's stop this hypocrisy in this country and allow the people the same freedom tha our bros in Europe have!!

[m]

Unbelievable! I am moving out of this country. I am tired of channel surfing and seeing grown men kick each others while fighting in a cage with thousands of spectators screaming and hollering for blood. Yet, these poor souls who choose to escape such brutality by going to a private beach are now going to have that right taken away because of some idiot men who get their jollies flirting with each other. This is the Final Straw!

[Brian Carr]

Just stumbling in... What brought up the gay issue. I would bet the REASON, as always, comes down to money.

"The currency of the realm is currency."
Pirates of the Carribean - a socialist movie series about the death of freedom in very corner of land & sea.

[denny obsuye]

sad sad
we love san onofre
looks like each weekend we will go to the nude spa resort
sea mountain inn
www.nudespa.com
hope they never close this luxury hotel and spa resort
its the best of los angeles a naked hotel

[SBN]

The State Parks Director has agreed to NOT ticket nudists until after Labor Day. Go enjoy the beach while it lasts.

Also, the issue of banning nudity at a long standing naturist area like San Onofre, which has been one of the nation's premier clothing optional beaches for 30 years, should be a HUGE red flag for anybody who enjoys the privilege of going nude at the beach. If these meddling politicians manage to ban nudity at San Onofre, the sky's the limit, and you can fully expect a rash of nudity banning around the nation.

You'd be more than wise to visit the friendsofsanonofre.org website to find out how you can contact the proper politicians to voice your support of continued naturism at San Onofre State Beach.

[Engineer, Philosopher, Occasional Nudist]

The Southern California Naturist Association and the Naturist Action Committee are hopeful that they'll prevail in their lawsuit against the CA Parks Department regarding the closure of San Onofre.

Regardless of their hope, this impending closure, and the denial of clothing-optional use of beaches in close proximity to communities, is baseless tyranny that oppresses taxpayers who have a right to use beaches in non-destructive ways as they see fit, in proportion to their percentage of the population.

The government HAS NO RIGHT to impose an aesthetic sentiment held only by a subset of the populace on the entirety of the population. It has no right to deny clothing-optional use of beaches by those who wish to use them for that purpose just because there are some people, however vocal, that are unenlightened, shameful prudes.

The research has been done, the literature exists, the input of everyday citizens is recorded--it is painfully obvious that the USA has a huge problem dealing with reality, especially human sexuality, the human body, and intellectualism in general, and instead manifests a mainstream culture that expects everybody to live in denial. As long ago as 1835, Alexis de Toqueville observed as much.

It is not only appropriate for freedom-minded people who want to preserve their right to have access to clothing-optional beaches (as well as their rights in general) to fight this injustice. It is entirely appropriate for them to use whatever means necessary to fight the oppressive government, as they did 233 years ago.

We not only need to defend San Onofre, we need to have a clothing-optional section of beach established CLOSER to the population centers of Los Angeles. Why should clothing-optional users, who are taxpayers like everybody else, be forced to drive 75 miles to San Onofre when they might live as close as 1 to 5 miles from the beach anywhere from Malibu to Long Beach? Answer: they shouldn't. A simple set of signs designating a clothing-optional area in a few spots along the 70 miles of LA county coastline would provide easy access to clothing-optional users, and alert the prudes who might come upon these areas so they can avert their oh-so-sensitive eyes and retarded minds. It would also increase the mental and physical well-being of the population by increasing access to C-O beaches for those who desire them, increase the stewardship of those beaches (C-O users love their beaches), boost tourism, and reduce pollution by not forcing people to drive 75 miles in their cars.

But will you SoCal people exercise your intelligence by doing this? At least 70% of U.S. Americans favor clothing-optional recreation. There is a rather large interest in C-O recreation in the LA area. And there are enough colleges and universities in the area to suggest that LA people are educated (and enlightened?). And Santa Monica, for one, prides itself on being a progressive city. So why don't you strive to achieve some intellectual success by maintaining and improving healthy, C-O recreation, and make an attempt live up to the "U.S.A. #1" mantra that you love to chant so much? (The USA was ranked 13th in civil liberties the last I saw, BTW--so it's hardly #1 anyway.)

By the way, I was planning on moving to LA, but now I'm pretty sure I'm not because of this issue. I make around $100K per year, and would therefore be just one more positive influence on the local community and economy. But if LA, and this state, is just going to fly in the face of intelligence and become more and more prudish, then I'll take my tax money, my rental dollars, and my input to the economy somewhere else.

[Stacy]

As an overworked professional I have come to rely on the clothing optional beach at San Onofre as an outlet for recreation and relaxation. I am both shocked and deeply heartbroken to discover that the state would consider closing this beach to clothing optional users. I have frequented this beach for nearly a decade and in that time I have seen nothing that would justify its closure. On the contrary I have found it to be the loveliest beach in the area. As a young woman I can attest that I feel safer and more comfortable at this beach than any other in Southern California. Without a clothing optional beach in this region of California I will be considering a move to another state.

[Jon]

On a recent weekend visit to San Onofre my wife and I were extremely disappointed with news of the potential closure of the clothing optional beach here. A change in policy with regard to clothing optional use will be a sad loss to the history, legacy and culture of California. The community and spirit of this beach is a true testament to to a healthy Southern California lifestyle and was something I was hoping could be shared for generations to come. In the 10 years my wife and I have found the clothing optional beach at San Onofre to be one of the safest, cleanest, and most family friendly beaches in all of California.

As this was the last clothing optional beach accessible from the Los Angeles area, its closure is very significant. Left without options, I too will be considering moving to another state.

[Peace If We Can, War If We Must]

Actually, rather than moving away, we need to stay and fight.

We need to not only save San Onofre, but demonstrate for at least 1 or 2 C-O beaches closer to the middle of L.A. We need to assemble in 1 or 2 decent locations and strip. So what if we get arrested or ticketed? We'll just help clog up the justice system more and pollute statistics about real criminals, making the justice system be worth even less than it already is.

Like it was said above, put up some signs to pacify the prudes and the problem is solved.

You know the slogans... "Un-exercised rights will inevitably be taken away." ..."I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees." ... "A society that gives up freedom for security deserves neither freedom nor security." ... "A free people should be armed." (George Washington)