If There are Ghosts at a Naturist Park, Are They Naked?
Staying overnight was an experience I’ll never forget.
The motel was dark; the silence was deafening. We were the only ones staying at the inn that night. All I could think of at the time was the Bates Motel, the movie, Psycho, and whether that night would be our last. I forewent the shower that night — Janet Leigh’s demise had taught me a lesson. If I was to meet a man with a knife, I wanted my feet dry and on solid ground.
Then again, what about ghosts? I mused. How could we protect ourselves from spirits we can’t see?
It began as a unique gift for my husband’s birthday. I surprised him by booking a trip to a local naturist park. The weekend included a two-day stay at their “no clothing” resort, complete with a saltwater pool, a lake, a recreation center, a campground, and a motel. Neither my husband nor I had experienced anything like it before, but it had been a lifelong fantasy of mine since my early twenties, and my husband, Ed, was on board.
I expected sleeping in the motel to be a cut above snoozing in a sleeping bag on the ground in a tent, but once darkness fell, the day-pass visitors went home, leaving only the residents who lived in homes deeper in the woods.
After spending the day sunning and splashing around in the pool, Ed and I played a couple of rounds of volleyball with other guests and enjoyed a tasty barbecued meal.
During our first day, I learned a few things.
- Naturists remove their clothes, but many still don sandals and a hat.
2. When you sun yourself while naked, there are more exposed areas for horseflies to land.
3. Playing volleyball or ping pong has a high risk of bruising in unprotected areas.
My birthday present was going well with no glitches. We were making friends wherever we lounged.
The motel had a large television on the lower level that residents flocked around to watch. I felt safe and comfortable amidst the company and never expected it to end. But when midnight rolled around, the motel became vacant. The hallways were pitched black as we shuffled to find our room.
The bedroom was small and unassuming — I was thankful it had a lock.
Every word we spoke echoed and bounced off the walls. We listened for other voices, but it seemed like we were the only ones there. The motel sat alone at the front of the park in the middle of the countryside. Anyone could have entered the park, sight unseen. It felt like we were sitting ducks.
But being hacked to death by a violent passerby or a Norman Bates copycat wasn’t my only worry. As I trembled in my bed, I wondered whether the inn had ghosts. I wasn’t sure which one was scarier — a man with an axe to grind or a spirit we couldn’t see?
Ed is a believer in spirits. On this night, I became one too.
I closed my eyes with a racing heart and rapid breath. Then we awaited our fate to reveal itself. Ed fell asleep first. I waited and sat vigil until sleepiness swept me away.
The park again came alive in the morning, and I felt silly revealing my fears to the office staff. They confirmed we were the only overnight guests booked that weekend. The manager said we would once again have a solo night. I wasn’t sure I could last another one alone because of the stillness. Ed reassured me he’d protect me, but from what, we didn’t know.
That day, guns fired off in the distance. We learned about a shooting range close by, and its active state brought on paranoid thoughts. But, as the day wore on, I let the anxiety go.
I learned a few more interesting facts about this park.
1. Although there was a snapping turtle in the lake, brave men opted to swim in it.
2. Families of all ages came swimming in the public pool without clothing. I found their comfort level was contagious.
3. A police officer lived on the grounds — all year round — the naturist park was his only home.
When night fell, the motel cleared. Once we finished playing all the ping pong and billiards we could manage, we shuffled through the dark hallway again and tucked ourselves into bed. Ed slipped into dreamland quickly. I listened for floor creaks or ghostly signs — with a knife borrowed from supper.
I wanted to be sure that I was better prepared on this night. Of course, I didn’t expect to use it, but sometimes feeling in control is the best defence of all. But how do you slay a ghost? Perhaps a person’s best line of defence is to befriend them.
That night I was a light-sleeper, keeping watch until the sun shone through the window. I had lots of time to regain my rest while sunning throughout the day. I basked in the nudist experience. My fantasy remained bright.
In the end, Ed and I had an amazing time. We took out a membership and visited the park every weekend that summer. Outside of camping one weekend, we never again stayed at the park or spoke of the motel.
Although this story would have been far more thrilling to tell if we had had a ghostly encounter or met a madman, I’m thankful my fright was all in my head.
This story is the naked truth about our experience at a naturist park — a memorable birthday present Ed and I will never forget. So, are ghosts at a naturist park naked? I guess we’ll never know.
Many people travel the world, while others’ adventure ideas lie closer to home. Sharing Randomly’s prompt to share a travel memory that will “always stay in your mind and heart” reminded me of this visit to the park. Likely not the expected response to a travel prompt, but I believe the experience was worth sharing.
Create experiences that leave you in awe, for these will be the highlights of your life. — Ryan Blair
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