Ranger danger at Playalinda
A wave of new incidents at Playalinda raises questions about the future of Florida’s most historic nude beach
Over the past few months, Playalinda Beach, a long-standing haven for naturists within Florida’s Canaveral National Seashore, has witnessed a series of enforcement actions that suggest a shift in how park regulations are being applied, particularly concerning families with children.
In late February, a naturist father visiting Playalinda Beach with his young daughter was reportedly approached by park rangers and cited for disturbing the peace. Sources indicate that the rangers initially alleged that being nude around minors was illegal—a claim not supported by Florida state law or federal regulations. The incident escalated, resulting in the father being handcuffed in front of his daughter before being released with a citation.
In early March, a Reddit user shared an experience titled “My experience, 3 times and I’m done”, detailing three visits to Playalinda Beach over five weeks. The user described inconsistent enforcement by rangers, who claimed that nudity was now confined only to areas north of parking lot 13, contradicting the long-standing tradition of naturist use near lots 12 and 13. The rangers reportedly threatened families with arrest for being nude near children, creating confusion and concern among visitors.
Most recently, in April, another Reddit post titled “They are coming for your beach!” recounted an incident where a parent visiting with two young children was approached by a ranger between parking lots 12 and 13. The ranger allegedly informed them that minors were no longer allowed in the nude section and threatened a citation for child endangerment if they did not leave. The ranger reportedly cited a supposed rule change in the superintendent’s compendium; however, a review of the 2024 compendium found no such prohibition against minors.1
Martin Novoa, president of the B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation Institute, believes the current confusion stems from enforcement concentrated south of parking lot 13—the traditional clothing-optional zone marked with official nudity warning signs. Earlier this year, after construction closures shut down access to parking lots north of Area 8, many naturists shifted southward, despite Area 13 traditionally being the accepted nude section. “Word on the street was that ‘8 is the new 13, for the time being,’” Novoa told Planet Nude, “but that doesn’t seem to have come down from park HQ itself.” He added that some rangers have behaved with increasing antagonism toward nudity and nudists, particularly when visitors stray south of the invisible line between parking areas 13 and 12.
When Planet Nude reached out to Canaveral National Seashore for this story seeking clarification, our messages were not returned by publication time. However, when we last spoke with CNS Public Information Officer Laura Henning in February regarding the earlier incident, she told Planet Nude that no changes in policy or enforcement approach had occurred to her knowledge.2
This lack of clarification adds to broader frustration over unclear signage and inconsistent communication. In 2024, after hurricane damage led to the removal of signs marking clothing-optional areas, some beachgoers expressed concern about the absence of clear indicators—leading to unexpected encounters between clothed visitors and naturists, and now, potential legal jeopardy.
As these enforcement actions continue without public explanation, naturist families are left uncertain about the future of clothing-optional recreation at Playalinda Beach. For decades, the beach has welcomed families seeking wholesome, non-sexual nude recreation. The recent uptick in ranger interventions—especially those citing nonexistent rules or threatening legal consequences—has left many in the community alarmed.
With no official announcement of a policy change and contradictory behavior from law enforcement, naturists are calling for transparency and consistency. Without it, one of Florida’s most historic nude beaches may become a flashpoint in the broader fight for body freedom on public lands. 🪐
National Park Service. (2024). Superintendent’s compendium: Canaveral National Seashore. U.S. Department of the Interior. https://www.nps.gov/cana/learn/management/superintendent-s-compendium.htm
Nicks, E. (2025, February 25). The shifting landscape of naturism in Florida and beyond. Planet Nude. https://www.planetnude.co/p/the-shifting-landscape-of-naturism
I was actually at Playalinda yesterday, and thankfully in the four hours I spent at the beach, I hadn't seen or encountered any issues with the park rangers. But this sort of news is incredibly troubling and it should be taken seriously by any naturists who value nude recreation at this beach.
We need to arm ourselves with knowledge on the parks, like the aforementioned compendium, and any local or state laws that we can cite against gung-ho rangers trying to stir up trouble. And we need more beach-goers to actually stand up for those falsely accused. Standing idly by is not the move when so many established naturist spots are under attack by our current political and cultural climate.
Do we know how true the Reddit story is? Florida has a great FOIA policy and releases every incident, all you need is a date/area and can find what you need. I know some redditors attempted to find the actual police report/incident number but it was unfounded.