Church Prays As Nudist Club Goes Up Nearby -- No County Restriction, So Congregation Hopes For Help From On High

TABOR CITY, N.C. - Between puffs on a cigarette, D. Wayne Harbour received yet another phone call.

It was a man from Myrtle Beach who wanted directions to Harbour's place.

A writer from The Wall Street Journal even called to speak with the man who can't finish a cigarette without interruptions.

Basically, people here and beyond want to know more about the 70-year-old widower's plans for what will be Columbus County's first nudist club.

"When you're nude," Harbour said, "you don't know who is wearing a Brooks Brothers suit and who is wearing one from Kmart. You don't know who has a pile of money in his wallet or who is dead broke. Everybody is equal."

About a month ago, the former health-spa owner bought 39 acres of land to serve as a home for the Nirvana Sun Club. About two weeks ago, he started the construction of his club, which is about a mile outside of Tabor City's town limits.

The Nirvana Sun Club also is three-tenths of a mile from New Life Baptist Church, something that has many church folks stirred up.

Columbus County has no zoning laws prohibiting nudist clubs. However, people in the New Life community don't want the club here. They said Harbour deliberately misled county officials because he didn't say his recreational vehicle park was going to be a nudist haven.

Harbour acknowledges that he didn't tell county officials he was building a place for nudists. He said it was none of their business.

"I had no idea there was a church so close . . . but it wouldn't have made a difference," Harbour said. "I bet that when they were building their homes they didn't tell the building inspector what they were going to wear around the house."

The Rev. Johnny Jenerette, pastor of New Life Baptist Church, said he hopes his congregation, with help from all Christians, can pray Harbour's business away.

God's help sought

"We are going to check and see if anything can be done from a legal standpoint," Jenerette said. "Our greatest resource is the Lord. And we are asking all of God's children and those who read this article . . . to pray that this offense will be removed. It's absolutely wrong."

Frances "Pat" Merritt said Harbour can't be a Christian and build a place like the Nirvana Sun Club.

"I don't even prance around in front of my husband naked," Merritt said. "God is going to put a whipping on that man and his people."

Harbour, a former member of Whispering Pines Resort in Longwood, N.C., said he fell in love with the Tabor City land and its location about a month ago and bought it immediately. He wanted to build a nudist resort there to provide a different atmosphere for nudists.

"Whispering Pines is not as relaxed, and I wanted to feel as if I could spend the rest of my life relaxed," Harbour said.

Though he has read about his neighbors' disapproval in local newspapers, Harbour isn't worried or fazed by all the attention.

"I'm not going anywhere," he said as he put out his cigarette. "I've invested too much."

Thus far, he has invested $200,000 into what he hopes will be the ultimate experience for nudists. He said several million dollars will be spent before the club is completed sometime next year.

"I want people to be able to relax here and just be themselves," he said, recently while holding Beauregard, his 8-year-old Shih Tzu.

Nudists who are members of the American Association for Nude Recreation will have access to tennis courts, a swimming pool, a hot tub and other features once the club is finished.

Harbour recently gave other nudists and possible potential members a preview of what was to come. About 150 people came to mingle and to tour the site.

"Clothing will be optional (for most of the resort)," Harbour said. "However, we have a `no-textile' rule for the swimming pool. If you want to swim, you have to be nude."

Being nude is something the former bodybuilder always liked.

"My mother had to chase me down the street to put pants on me," said Harbour, who still lifts weights to stay in shape.

In 1955 on a California beach, Harbour was asked to join a nude volleyball game. He was excited, but his now-deceased wife, Ann, decided to wear her bathing suit to the event. In less than five minutes, she was bare.

Harbour and his crew snagged the 1955 National Nude Volleyball championship, and his wife became Miss Nude America.

"Once you get the feel of the sun over your body, you'll never want to put on clothes," he said.

Minus a shirt, Harbour was fully clothed during this interview.

Yet, he is not hesitant to say the happiest times of his life were at nudist clubs.

He met his live-in companion, 50-year-old Lonnie Collison, at a nudist club in Florida last December.

Like Harbour, she is physically fit and looks much younger than her age.

Collison, a former marathon runner, has been a nudist for five years. She is soft-spoken and firmly believes in personal freedom.

She also has witnessed the flurry of attention her boyfriend's club has received.

Traffic has picked up in the New Life community since they arrived. Vehicles have crept by at a turtle's pace, trying to get a glimpse at something or someone.

"We know that this isn't for everyone," Collison said. "If it was, everybody would be doing it. But the people who don't do it should allow those who enjoy this life to live in peace."

Merritt calls her community "God's country," and that's why she doesn't want Harbour and his nudist friends here.

"With prayer, God will move that mountain," Merritt said. "And it is a mountain in our neighborhood. That place is a slap in the face to any denomination and Christianity."

Contrary to what critics think, Harbour and Collison said nudist clubs aren't places where people with insatiable sex drives go.

`Not a swinger's club'

"I wouldn't do anything I wouldn't let my mother see me doing," Harbour said. "It's not a swinger's club."

Though he doesn't have any written rules, Harbour said those who try to have sex, harass other members or infringe upon someone's rights in any other way will not be tolerated.

Harbour added that folks who try to sneak peeks of the happenings at his club also will be out of luck.

His park already is encircled by a 7-foot dirt wall, which is next to a 10-foot trench. Bushes will be planted to form a 6-foot barrier, and the ditch will become a moat. The area also is surrounded by a thick forest, and "no trespassing" signs already are posted.

"I won't have clothed people come in just to gawk at people," he said.

Even though he will allow adults to tour the club, they must join if they visit a second time.

He said membership will be $300 annually for families and couples, including children younger than 18. Single members will pay $175.

He said about 25 people have signed up.

And with his pool slated for completion by Labor Day, he anticipates more calls and inquiries.

"The only thing that can slow us down is if county officials throw a monkey wrench into our plans," Harbour said. "And smoke will rise if they do."

But Merritt believes the church, not county officials, will get rid of the nudist club.

"If he knew God was coming tonight," Merritt said, "he would put his clothes on."