Camp lays bare the rewards of nudism

SULTAN — There's a harsh reality to being a nudist in Washington in the winter.

Goose bumps.

It's that or wear clothes. And most of the year-round members of the Lake Bronson Club choose the latter, unless the heat's turned up.

Just like any other social club, the Lake Bronson Club, a 65-year-old nudist club about five miles north of Sultan, has monthly board meetings, potlucks and dances. And though the number of participants is down from summer, the spirit is willing even if the flesh is chilled.

"This time of year, you see more people with their clothes on than off," said club caretaker Steve Quesinberry, 47. "But if you were to look at our propane bills, you'd know we keep it warm enough for either option."

That was evident Saturday, when the club hosted its Sweethearts Valentine's potluck and dance, drawing about 40 people who came to socialize and exercise their option to dance without the constraints of clothing.

By the rules of the club, a member organization of the American Association for Nude Recreation, the only places members have to be nude are the showers, hot tub, sauna and lake. But anywhere, anytime, clothes are optional elsewhere.

Quesinberry and his wife, Ramona, have been the caretakers at Lake Bronson since 1992. They became nudists in the early 1980s when Steve was stationed with the Army at Fort Knox, Ky.

Ramona Quesinberry, 44, conceded it took her a while and a lot of questions before she would disrobe around other people. But once she did, she was hooked.

"It's a real sense of freedom," she said. "I'm always the one pulling at my swimsuit to be comfortable when I'm at the lake. Well, here you just don't have to worry about that."

The Quesinberrys said the advantage of being a part of a local club is that everyone knows each other and is less self-conscious.

"You learn fast that there are no perfect 10s out there," Ramona Quesinberry said.

"And you begin to realize that nobody's here to gawk at you. True nudists respect each other and the freedom we all enjoy."

The Quesinberrys, who have two sons living with them at the club year-round, aren't shy about telling people what they do. Ramona is a former president of the Sultan Chamber of Commerce.

Just about the only issue they've run across was how to help their youngest son, who is now 18, tell others about his home life.

"We kept telling him not to talk about it at school when he was young," Ramona Quesinberry said. "We told him some people don't understand this."

That was before they recognized one of his teachers as a member at another nudist recreational camp.

According to the American Association for Nude Recreation, there are 240 private nudist clubs in the U.S., with 10 in Washington state. The Lake Bronson Club, which is member-owned, is the only nudist club in Snohomish County.

The club has 216 members. The focus is family fun, so young couples with children are encouraged to join. Many of the younger couples were introduced by parents or grandparents who are members.

Leonard Johnson and his wife, Marie, have been nudists and members of the club for about 10 years. He was a nudist — or naturist — and had been at the camp with his first wife, and after they were divorced and he remarried, he talked Marie into giving it a try.

"It took 16 years to get her up here," Johnson said. "But now she loves it."

The Seattle couple brought their 21-year-old granddaughter, Crystal, with them to Saturday's dance.

As one of the youngest members, Crystal, who hopes to soon be a flight attendant, said going without clothing was something she found rewarding.

"The first time I was up here, when I was about 12, I made everybody turn their heads when I took off my swimsuit and got in the hot tub," she said.

"As a teenager, it's difficult to not feel that people are staring at you. But the people here are not like that. This isn't about sex. This is about freedom."

Leonard Johnson said he became interested in nudism after reading about it in magazines. At 58, after a career in truck driving, he's ready for the day when he can retire and live year-round at the lake.

"In the winter, we socialize around the fireplace in the lodge, and we have potlucks and dances," he said. "It's not all that different than any other social club. It's just that we do it without our clothes — that is, when it's warm enough."

Although Johnson chose to wear a pair of silk pajama bottoms with red hearts for the themed party, he prefers to be nude. It was just too chilly for him in the dance hall, he said.

Others weren't cold. One young woman wore a red netted dress with nothing underneath. Another wore only a red velvet miniskirt. A middle-aged man wore loafers and a white T-shirt long enough to give him some warmth, but not long enough to cover his bottom. A man in his mid-30s wore shimmery boxer shorts that caught the reflection of the disco ball as he danced.

As the night wore on, clothes came off. Even the disc jockey, who is a member, disrobed.

Ramona Quesinberry said the club averages about 20 year-round residents. Others in the area drop by on weeknights to use the hot tub and come for the weekend events.

Like any other business, the poor economy has hurt Lake Bronson.

"When times are tough, people cut out spending on recreation, whether it's going to the movies or coming out here," Steve Quesinberry said. "We're not immune to that."

Like other members, the Quesinberrys live their personal lives with the blinds drawn. In the privacy of their home, they don't wear clothes for the most part, whether they're cooking, cleaning or watching television.

"But I usually keep something close by, for when the doorbell rings," Ramona Quesinberry said. They think the lifestyle is becoming more accepted.

"It will never be mainstream," Steve Quesinberry said. "But it's not as rare as you would think. We have members who are lawyers, professors, business people and even city employees."

But members seldom talk about what they do. Sometimes it's because their bosses don't know about their recreational pursuits. Other times, it's because it doesn't matter, Steve Quesinberry said.

"That's one of the great advantages of being here," he said. "People often judge each other by their clothing. If someone's in a suit versus overalls, you think you know something about their social standings.

"When you're naked, no one can tell."

Leslie Moriarty: 425-745-7800 or snohomishcounty@seattletimes.com