by San Bernardino County, California – A decades-old naturist haven has erupted into legal conflict as longtime residents of Olive Dell Ranch, a well-known nudist resort in the San Jacinto foothills, file a lawsuit against its new owners. The dispute centers on the resort’s sudden decision to require clothing, a change residents argue violates their civil rights and threatens to erase more than 70 years of naturist tradition.
Olive Dell Ranch’s Naturist Legacy
Founded in 1952, Olive Dell Ranch was established as a 136-acre retreat where nudity was celebrated as natural, healthy, and freeing. For generations, it offered mobile-home and RV living, a clubhouse, a pool, hiking trails, and a restaurant — all rooted in the belief that body acceptance and naturism created a unique community.
But since new owners purchased the property in 2019, residents say the ranch’s mission has been under attack. Four years later, management announced a permanent shift to a “textile” policy — nudist lingo for requiring clothing at all times.
Residents Take Legal Action
The lawsuit, filed in California state court, accuses the owners — Mark Glasier, Brian Cleland, and Tina Coffelt — of:
- Civil rights violations
- Elder abuse
- Tenant harassment
- Conspiring to drive out the nudist community in order to raise the land’s value
“This at its heart is an anti-discrimination case,” attorney Frances M. Campbell, who represents more than 50 plaintiffs, told The Guardian.
Residents argue that being forced to wear clothing is not simply a rule change but an attack on their way of life. To them, naturism is a philosophy of body acceptance and harmony with nature, not a stunt or fetish.
Claims of Neglect and Harassment
In addition to the clothing mandate, tenants accuse management of deliberately neglecting and deteriorating the property to pressure them out. According to court filings, the owners allegedly:
- Allowed the pool to turn green and closed the sauna and restaurant
- Canceled long-standing community events
- Neglected the water system, leaving residents without drinking water in fire-prone foothills
- Let trash services lapse and imposed steep increases in electricity costs after installing private meters
- Allowed roads, showers, and tennis courts to deteriorate
“All of the new rules, procedures, and actions … were undertaken … to try to empty the Ranch of residents, many of whom are seniors on fixed incomes, veterans, and disabled persons,” the lawsuit states.
Community Pushback
Despite what they describe as harassment, residents have fought to preserve their community. They claim to have repaired the pool, restored roads, and maintained the grounds themselves after management abandoned upkeep.
Still, the official announcement in late 2024 that Olive Dell would go textile marked a breaking point. For many, it felt like the final blow to a community built around naturism’s values.
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Troubling Allegations of Safety Issues
The lawsuit also points to troubling safety concerns. Plaintiffs allege that after a double homicide on the property last year, management refused to properly clean up or secure the crime scene, leaving residents traumatized and the area vulnerable to infestations.
Additionally, some claim owners pressured tenants not to speak to police during earlier stages of disputes, further eroding trust.
Elder Abuse Allegations
Many of Olive Dell’s longtime residents are retirees. Attorneys argue that the owners engaged in financial elder abuse, targeting seniors with higher rents, neglected services, and eviction threats that prey on their limited resources.
“That’s not the way rules work in mobile home parks,” Campbell said, noting that management skipped required procedures when changing policies.
What Residents Want
The plaintiffs are seeking damages and a court order to restore Olive Dell’s identity as a nudist resort. Beyond money, residents say their fight is about preserving a philosophy and way of life that has defined the community for over 70 years.
For naturists, clothing mandates strip away more than fabric — they erase a cultural identity built on freedom, acceptance, and equality.
Do you think a nudist community should have the right to preserve its traditions, or can new owners reshape the culture of a private resort? Share your thoughts in the comments at ibwhsmag.com.
