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Moderator
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 Posted - 04/13/2008 : 2:39:38 PM
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Elmer and Lucille Adams opened Sunshine Gardens (their home and one of the most beautiful pieces of property ever to be shared with nudists anywhere) in 1942.
On June 30, 1956, four guests were arrested at the park for "indecent exposure." They were found guilty by a jury at trial on September 14 that year.
Over two years later, on September 9, 1958, those conviction were overturned by the Michigan Supreme Court. Michigan (and the whole of the nudist world) owes much to the Adams, Sunshine Gardens, and those four nudists brought to trial.
"...If nudism is illegal, art galleries and museums would have to turn to the cultivation of fig leaves and that stalward bane of middle-class respectability, the National Geographic magazine, would have to be banished... It seems that we are now prepared to burn down the house of constitutional safeguards in order to resist a few nudists. I will have none of it." -- Justice John D. Voelker
On April 9, 2008, Maynard and Lucille Adams (yes, members of the very same Adams family from 1942), announced that this summer, Sunshine Gardens would open for the summer on May 1, 2008, as a "clothing park." A said day for nudists for sure.
But, the Adams and Sunshine Gardens deserve all of our thanks and respect for all they've done for nudists in the US of A. Thank you Adams Family! We will miss Sunshine Gardens but wish you well as you prepare for selling the property and moving on to retirement.
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Calbob
Forum Member
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Posted - 04/14/2008 : 12:31:41 PM
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It's always sad to learn of a nudist park closing. However, with privately owned parks, it often happens when the first generation owners die or retire. Many times, the heirs can make more money selling the property than continuing to operate it as a nudist club. That's what happened to Elysium here in California. Ray Connett, founder of Glen Eden in Southern California, had the foresight to turn it into a cooperative club and ensure that it would remain nudist forever.
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Admin
Forum Admin
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 Posted - 04/14/2008 : 6:10:52 PM
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 Our family has never been to Sunshine Gardens Resort, but it looks like we are all losing an impressive nude destination. Perhaps some timely nudist oriented investor will step up and buy it just in time.
Just in case that doesn't happen, and it goes textile as announced on May 1st 2008, here is a detailed description and a few pictures to remember SGR's golden days.
This is a good reminder to go out and support your favorite nudist resort. You cannot take them for granted, and you never know when a well known location will close down.
From the real estate listing:
MAKE AN OFFER for this 125 Acre Licensed Campground / Resort. Est. in 1942. 10,000 sq. ft. for indoor activities. 60 modern sites. Beautiful grounds, lots of leveled expansion area for additional sites. Ponds for swimming, fishing, boating. 20' X 40' Indoor heated pool w/ inground SPA, 500 gal. hot-tub. 30 person Swedish Sauna. Asphalt tennis / volleyball, basketball courts. 1500' small aircraft landing field. Radio Control car asphalt oval race track. many other items too numerous to mention.
Real Estate Listing # 189191
information last updated on March 10, 2008
 Price: $2,500,000
Address:
21901 Collier Ave.
Battle Creek, MI 49017
Map
Area: Bedford
County: Calhoun
Type: Commercial
For Sale By Owner: Maynard Adams, Homeowner.
Financing: No Preference
Phone: (269) 963-6067
Phone: (269) 962-1600
Email: Email Seller
YARD & LANDSCAPING
Well groomed, mowed, terraced w/ ornamental waterwheel, 2 large mushrooms, rolling fields and woods, grass 1500' aircraft landing filed, small creek, some swamp that harbors lots of wildlife. Miles of well groomed 15' wide trails through wooded areas.
ROOMS
Recreation Hall - 38' x 60' - Oak flooring, Knotty Pine paneling, large stone fireplace, stage, lots of windows overlooking main grounds. 2 pool tables, misc games.
Owners Quarters - 38' x 40' - Managers quarters, office area, bath, kitchen, 3 bedrooms or storage
Game room - Carpeted w/ lots of kids toys, furniture
TV Lounge - Carpeted, lots of windows, chairs, sofa, TV
Included Appliances: Stove, grill, refrigerator, freezer, cooking & serving dishes
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
LAND CONTRACT AVAILABLE. e-mail for information. PRICE LOWERED: $1,999,000
Here is the latest news as of 14 April 2008 from the Sunshine Gardens Resort website:
1/7/08
"Maynard and Penny have recently decided to sell SGR, preferably as a nudist park, but possibly to some other organization or individual. Advertising at this time has been by word-of-mouth.
"Maynard and Penny intend to remain open and look forward to everyone attending for the summer seasons, for however long it takes to find a suitable buyer.
"They assure all, the sale is not because of any health problems.
"Maynard has been involved in the SGR operation since 1942 and Penny since 1990. They would like to enjoy FULL retirement."
Also this excerpt from the Open Letter:
"We are sorry to inform you that at this time, Sunshine Gardens Resort will no longer be a nudist facility. We will be opening May 1st as a clothing park, unless someone buys it and decides to continue as a nudist park.
"We would again like to clarify; rumors regarding illness or failing health is prompting us to sell SGR, is not true. We are just looking forward to total retirement in the next few years, and selling SGR is the first step to this. We are also selling our other properties including two rental homes, eight lots, and six rental apartments.
"As many of you are aware SGR has been listed for sale. We have had several potential purchasers that have stated, if it were an up and running clothing campground they would definitely be more interested in making the large time, effort and financial commitment needed. We also had two possible buyers, that apparently are no longer interested, that would have kept it as a nudist park.
<snip>
"With this venture we expect to see many more events, activities and participants than we have seen at SGR since the 50’s and 60’s. There are few clothing campgrounds to choose from in the Battle Creek area and none that have all the amities offered at SGR. Many people, neighbors and friends in our area have shared with us, that it is difficult to find a place to camp and they have to make reservations months in advance.
<snip>
"We are having an Open House at SGR on April 26, 2008 from 1 pm to 5 pm."
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Pat
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Posted - 04/15/2008 : 07:17:59 AM
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I have been here a few times. It was a great place to take a walk and enjoy the outdoors in the nude. The people that worked there were always very friendly.
Pat
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inthebuffstuff
New Member
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Posted - 04/15/2008 : 6:16:46 PM
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I am sorry to see the park being sold and most likely no longer be a nudist park. That was the first nudist park I ever went to when I was in school at Western Michigan years ago. My visit there changed my life and made it easy to decide to live a nudist lifestyle.
www.inthebuffstuff.com
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sailawaybob
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Posted - 02/08/2009 : 9:20:59 PM
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I just happened on this old post, I wonder if congress would let me have 2.5 mill out of their pork barrel spending so I can buy this resort, I would rather see America keep a nudist resort over a frisbee park....
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Country: USA
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Warmskin
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Posted - 02/08/2009 : 10:45:34 PM
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The closing is a tribute to failing to keep alive the spirit and intentions of the original family members.
Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with none.
Thomas Jefferson
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Sunshine Gardens, MI - closes to nudists
