Historic nude resort in the Bay Area hills is put up for sale
“Spectacular” site on 100-plus acres might get new owner
LOS GATOS, CA — The longtime owner of a historic nudist resort nestled in the tree-covered hills of Los Gatos has decided to sell the beloved site.
Lupin Lodge, founded during the Great Depression, has long been a draw for social nudists and naturists.
The lodge and its 112 bucolic acres, which are located just south of the Lexington Reservoir off Highway 17, are now for sale. What will become of the property — and the beloved nudist haven — remains unknown.
“It’s a spectacular place, a beautiful property, and a great community,” said Lori Kay Stout, Lupin Lodge’s current owner and operator.
The naturist resort, founded in 1935 on the site of an old winery forced to close due to Prohibition, has survived economic collapse, a world war, creditors, recessions, wildfires, and other adversity.
Since 1977, the Stout family has owned the property and the resort, which is the oldest business in the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce. Stout refused to reveal the asking price.
Lori Kay became the sole owner and operator of the lodge after her husband Glyn Stout died in 2015. Keeping up with everything became a significant burden despite a dedicated and skilled staff.
“It’s my health and it’s a lot to keep an eye on,” she told me. “I have to deal with 38 different agencies when it comes to taxes, compliance, regulations, and paperwork.” I have a fantastic team. But I am only one person.”
While the coronavirus forced people to flee restaurants and offices, the pandemic increased visits and sales to the nudist resort.
“There’s been a big uptick in business because of the pandemic,” Stout told reporters. “People want to go hiking and spend time outside. After being so isolated, people have a great opportunity to connect here.”
Patrons from Oakland and San Francisco frequently traveled to the resort on the Sunshine Express, a now-defunct train that ran during the summer.
According to Stout, the resort has also hosted national naturist and nudist conferences over the years. During the 1940s and 1950s, the resort hosted nudist conventions with over 1,000 attendees with the help of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce.
The Great Lexington Fire of 1983 posed one of the most serious physical threats to the resort. The wildfire destroyed 14,000 acres and destroyed many homes.
The newly renovated and revamped resort, however, escaped the fire. To combat the inferno, the Stout family provided a staging area for firefighters, equipment, and bulldozers.
The property has recently been listed for sale and may not be available for long. Multiple would-be buyers have previously emerged with unsolicited offers.
“We are excited for what the future holds,” said Lupin’s manager, Charles Kuo. “With an extensive use permit, ideal location, gorgeous park-like grounds and facilities, we anticipate a lot of interest in the sale.”
The area is densely forested with redwoods and old oaks. Deer frequently visit the grounds and drink from the property’s creek.
Lupin Lodge will have a lasting legacy long after Stout is gone, regardless of what the future holds or how a buyer plans to use the property.
“We have a worldwide following,” Stout explained. “One of our business colleagues told us that we are regarded as thought leaders.” We used to not allow single people to visit, but we changed that. We’ve drawn a lot of young people. We welcome the Burning Man crowd. We believe in being body positive, wearing no clothes, and letting go of shame.”
The lodge has a swimming pool, a hot tub, a sauna, a volleyball court, a tennis court, a petanque court, a basketball net, tetherball, pickleball, a children’s playground, table tennis, books, puzzles, board games, and cable TV in the clubhouse lounge.
Despite all of these amenities, Stout believes that the natural setting is the main draw for visitors.
“It’s really close to Los Gatos but you feel that it’s really remote with all of the redwood trees and old oaks,” Stout told me. “We only use a small portion of it.” The majority of the land is in excellent condition.”
