--
The History of Oakdale Guest Ranch
A Nudist Haven in the Cajon Pass
The Oakdale Guest Ranch, more commonly known as Oakdale Nudist Camp, was situated on a mountain at the bottom of the Cajon Pass in California. It wasn't just a place people came to sunbathe; it was part of something much bigger-it was an important part of the American nudist movement. From the 1930s up to the 1970s, Oakdale underwent changes in social rules, ups and downs in popularity, and tried to hold on to its beliefs while facing pressures from modern culture.
The Founding and Early Years
Oakdale Guest Ranch was founded by Ray and Helen Berry, early supporters of nudism in the United States. In the early 1930s the couple established the San Bernardino Sunshine League, an organization that promoted naturism as the path to good health and liberation. They soon began looking for a permanent spot to hold meetings and first settled on a goat farm in the high desert of California. By April 1933, they established the Oakdale Guest Ranch. However, the remote location proved impractical for attracting members, so in 1934, the group moved to Devore, near the Cajon Pass.This new place, just outside the growing city of San Bernardino, was easier to reach and would soon become the favorite spot of people wanting to get away from city life. The ranch had 13 acres of land, with natural beauty and privacy perfect for nudists who wanted to put into practice their main ideas concerning health, equality, and simplicity.
Amenities and Activities
Oakdale Guest Ranch was designed to offer a secluded nudist experience that rivaled any mainstream resort of its caliber. The focal point of the ranch is a state-of-the-art crystal-clear swimming pool named after Kurt Barthel, one of the pioneers in American nudism. This crystal-clear swimming pool features a recirculating filtration system, underwater lighting, and a diving board, thus setting high standards for recreation facilities in nudist communities. Guests could also enjoy volleyball, shuffleboard, tennis, and archery. There are specific areas for these activities scattered throughout the ranch's property.
Dining at Oakdale was special. The ranch's "nude stand" offered a wide variety of meals for members and guests. The playful name indicated the community's enjoyment of their lifestyle. In addition, comfortable cabins and trailer spaces provided overnight accommodations, making the ranch a welcoming spot for local members and visitors from outside the area.
Oakdale's Role in the Nudist Movement
Oakdale was not simply a place of recreation; it played a substantial role in the development of the American nudist movement. In 1953, it attained national prominence when it hosted the first nudist convention. The event attracted supporters and enthusiasts from around the country, touting Oakdale as the leading place in that movement.Education was also supported by the establishment of the Oakdale Ranch School, a private boarding school with an official curriculum in a nudist setting. This new way of teaching demonstrated how the movement wanted naturist values integrated into daily life in order to foster development-both physical and mental.
The Hocker Era and Controversial Changes
In 1957, Oakdale Guest Ranch was taken over by Mel and Anne Hocker. The Hookers loved nudism. This changed the history of the ranch. Mel used to work as a cost analyst for Ford Motor Company. His partner Anne shared his enthusiasm. They brought along new energy and ideas to the ranch. But their time at the helm was not without its difficulties.Under the Hockers, Oakdale began to orient itself toward younger members. They introduced changes such as dancing and BYOB (bring your own beer) events. Some traditionalists felt this was a move away from the basic ideas of nudism. These events attracted a different crowd, and there were community discussions on how to maintain core values while changing with modern trends.
The Miss Nude Universe Pageant
In 1965, Mel Hocker created the Miss Nude Universe Pageant to help pay for the ranch. This annual event drew a lot of media attention and brought in photographers from big magazines like Playboy. It was touted as a naturist beauty contest and also as a promotion of the ranch, which was struggling to find its place in a changing culture.The pageant notwithstanding, the event couldn't arrest the decline of membership in Oakdale. By the late 1960s, buildings at the ranch were falling apart, and the once-bustling community was dwindling. Ironically, it was the sexual changes of that time that accelerated its demise. As topless bars, adult magazines, and other explicit forms of sexuality gained acceptance, the special allure of nudist communities began to fade.
Decline and Closure
By the early 1970s, Oakdale Guest Ranch was not the lively place it used to be. Membership had dwindled from 300 couples to a mere 60, and its busy grounds were largely empty. An article in TIME magazine described the ranch as sad with empty pools, unused sports courts, and older members who only came on warm weekends. Attempts at rescuing the ranch involved hiring promoter Sparky Blaine, who rebranded the Miss Nude Cosmos Pageant as "The Woodstock of the Nudist Movement" in an effort to bring in younger crowds with go-go girls and other gaudy additions. But it was all for naught. The Oakdale Guest Ranch finally closed its doors, and an era came to an end.Legacy
Even though Oakdale Guest Ranch no longer exists, the memory lives in the history of the American nudist movement. It was a place where the norms of society could be questioned, where differing ways of living could be experienced, and a community with shared values of freedom and acceptance could be built. In a way, the story of Oakdale reminds one of the change that has been happening in this culture and of the strength needed to live one's life.Today, people remember Oakdale warmly if they lived there, or historians know of its importance in a larger cultural movement. The ranch helped nudism by hosting national gatherings and supporting education, which is an important part of the history of social change in the United States.
Miss Nude Universe
The Miss Nude Universe pageant began in 1963 at the Castaways Motel in Dania Beach, Florida, but relocated in 1965 to the Oakdale Nudist Ranch in Devore, California, at the base of Cajon Pass. This move aligned the event with the naturist philosophy of celebrating nudity as natural and empowering. The ranch's private, scenic location provided a fitting venue for the growing pageant, which moved away from its adult-entertainment roots to reflect the 1960s countercultural embrace of body positivity and self-expression. The event brought national attention to Devore, making it a unique cultural hub during a time of shifting societal norms.
