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Community Corner

History Unveiled: Pasco Nudism Begins With One Man

How did the county become the Naturist Capital of the United States? Step one: Lake Como Family Nudist Resort is founded in April 1941.

 

The timeframe was the late 1930s. A man name Bru walks into his doctor's office with a skin problem. His doctor tells him he needs more sun on his skin to help with his condition. The doctor suggests he become a nudist to help him out. Bru doesn't like the idea but his wife, Dorothy, convinces him to try it out to see if he might like it. 

He loves it. Bru invites his friends to head out on the weekends to nearby Gasparilla Island and Honeymoon Island. While relaxing there in the 1930s, the group comes up with the concept of being one big nude happy family as a motto for a naturist resort. 

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Bru, a title attorney, finds 350 acres of orange groves in Lutz held for back taxes and purchases the land from the Leonard family. The date is April 25, 1941, and a charter is given to the Florida Athletic and Health Association/Lake Como Club by the state of Florida for the promotion of outdoor health activities for its members. 

And on that date, Dorothy and Avery Weaver "Bru" Brubaker, with a lot of help from others, start the first naturist resort in Florida.  

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In August 1936 the national organization for naturists changes its name to the American Sunbathing Association. Lake Como Club joins the ASA in 1950.

In 1963 ASA names Dorothy Brubaker "Woman of the Year." 

Thirty naturists clubs and 3,000 members exist nationwide in 1948. Today there are 270 resorts or communities nationwide, with 70,000 card-carrying naturists in the United States.

In Pasco County, there are 12 venues, 26 social clubs and 10 businesses where people live, work and play naturally. 

The venues are as varied as the people of this land. As a naturist, you can enjoy an elegant dining experience, play a round of golf or lounge on your favorite chair (using a towel of course for hygiene). 

Today, about 3,000 people live inside the gates of the 12 naturist venues in Pasco County. We estimate at least twice that number live very close by and visit often.  According to the Pasco Area Naturist Development Association,  there at least 10,000 naturists living here or very nearby Pasco County. We bring lots back to the community in the form of support for the needy, patronizing local businesses and bringing in new European tourists. Check out PANDAbare.org to see what we have done and what we are doing.

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