The early chapters of Lupin Lodge
Special Edition: Glyn Stout’s narrative of Lupin Lodge, tracing naturist liberation in Los Gatos from 1934 to 2010—featuring all new supplemental material and an original introduction
Editor’s note: Lupin Lodge turns 90 years old this year! To celebrate the club’s important history, and in collaboration with Lupin’s owner Lori Kay Stout, we proudly present this special edition of Lupin’s early history, written by the late Glyn Stout.
With the support of Lori Kay, Planet Nude is in the process of producing a book of Glyn’s writing—detailing the full ninety-year history of Lupin Lodge—to be released at a later time. This exclusive post is just a taste of the material the full book will cover.
This Planet Nude special edition has much to enjoy for our free readers, including an original introduction and author tribute by yours truly, a supplemental article detailing the lost origins of Lupin Lodge by Dr. Carl Hild, and the first chapters of Glyn Stout’s detailed chronology. However, the complete and detailed text is available exclusively for paid subscribers. Interested?
Introducing Lupin Lodge’s historical saga
By
| 2024
This important piece of writing, penned by Glyn Stout, chronicles the first seventy-five years of Lupin Lodge—the longest continuously run nudist resort west of the Mississippi River. It represents but a small taste of the prolific writing that Glyn did to catalog Lupin’s great history back to 1935 when the founders first established camp on the property on which Lupin still stands. However, today, thanks to some newly unearthed history, we can now date the club’s establishment to even earlier than Glyn knew—1934, at least—and Lupin this year will officially celebrate its 90th anniversary. This special edition post is meant to commemorate this impressive accomplishment.
Stout, as Lupin Lodge’s owner for over forty years, was a visionary leader and a fervent naturist, and he steered Lupin Lodge with dedication and insight until his untimely death from an aortic aneurysm in 2015. His legacy has since been carried forward by his beloved widow, Lori Kay Stout, who has been the sole custodian of this historic space since his passing. In October 2023, Lori Kay announced plans to retire and sell the club, opening a new chapter in the storied history of Lupin Lodge.
In celebration of Glyn Stout, and in gratitude to Lori Kay Stout for allowing the republishing of this important work, we present Glyn’s chronology, originally titled “Lupin Lodge: 75 years of body acceptance and natural freedom.” This comprehensive account covers the initial seventy-five years of Lupin Lodge, from 1935 to 2010. We also present some additional supplemental material, which I will detail below.
As I mentioned above, Glyn wrote much more than this chronology, including an earlier manuscript detailing the club’s first fifty years that is rich in detail and engaging prose. A book of this writing, edited by myself and Dr. Hild, containing the full ninety-year history of Lupin Lodge, is in the works. Please stay tuned to Planet Nude for an announcement about this book and its release date, coming at a future time. We hope that for now, the material contained in this exclusive post will pique your interest and whet your appetite for the full book.
But first, there’s more you should know about Glyn Stout.
Glyn Stout
Glyn Stout, once the low-profile yet pivotal force behind Lupin Naturist Resort, remains a symbol of leadership and vision even today, almost a decade after his passing. His story reflects his dedication to naturism and community, but it also forms a long list of achievements, from serving in the US Navy during the Cold War to rising through the corporate ranks.
Stout’s formative years were spent in Amarillo, Texas, under the care of a single mother. His introduction to social nudity at his local YMCA laid the foundation for his lifelong commitment to the naturist ethos. His academic pursuits at Yale and Stanford Business School not only shaped his intellectual prowess but also prepared him for his later role as the custodian of Lupin Lodge.
His journey with naturism began after a visit to a small naturist club in Fresno, leading him and his first wife eventually to Lupin. His involvement deepened after moving to Santa Clara in 1967, eventually taking over the Lodge’s operations in 1977.
His transition to full-time management of the resort in the late 1970s showcased his ability to meld corporate strategies with his passion for naturism. His leadership was tested and proven during challenges such as the Lexington forest fire in 1985, and the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, which threatened but never vanquished the resort. Many of these are detailed in the passages below.
Central to Glyn’s story is his family. His marriage to Lori Kay, a distinguished artist, and the birth of their daughters, epitomized his personal values and future aspirations for Lupin. Stout viewed the resort not just as a business but as a legacy for coming generations.
In his later years, as he eased back from the day-to-day operations, Stout continued to influence Lupin’s direction, embodying a philosophy that shifted from personal success to fostering a community grounded in simplicity and freedom. Stout’s presence at Lupin was always subtle, yet his impact was profound.
In this digital edition
Before we delve into Glyn’s splendid history of Lupin Lodge, we introduce an essay by Dr. Carl Hild that sheds light on the club’s early days. Hild’s research, focused on the pioneering nude photographer Albert Arthur Allen, uncovers aspects of Lupin’s history that predate Glyn’s account by at least a year. This discovery not only extends our understanding of Lupin’s roots but also complements and honors Glyn’s diligent work in chronicling the early years of Lupin. Dr. Hild’s report, therefore, serves as both a prelude and a tribute to the rich history of Lupin Lodge, as captured in Glyn Stout’s detailed research.
I trust that these unique materials will enrich your understanding of Lupin’s culture and ethos, developed over almost a century, and deepen your appreciation of its significant role in the broader nudism movement. By sharing these rare writings, we aim to unveil Lupin not merely as a geographical location but as a vibrant community and culture that has a long history of thriving amidst change. And we hope that reading it ignites a fervent passion in you to celebrate and support the preservation of this nude community—in whatever form it may take in its next chapter—for another ninety years. 🚀
Albert Arthur Allen and the hidden roots of Lupin
By
| 2024
Albert Arthur Allen, operating a photography studio in Oakland since the 1910s, was well-known for his striking shots of nudes in nature and his meticulous documentation of body shapes in his studio.
George Marcellus Spray and Serena Almira Meyer Spray made their way to Oakland from Los Angeles around 1927. It is unknown how the Sprays met Allen, but at the time, Allen did advertise that for $1, he would shoot a portfolio for women, including nude studies. Hundreds of women took advantage of this service, aspiring to enter the burgeoning California movie industry. Perhaps Serena was one of those who visited Allen’s studio, and she was reportedly aptly named.
The Oakland Tribune for 15 June 1934 carried a call for members for the "NUDIST Elysian Gardens Health Camp.” In August, the same paper reported a “deer hunter” having a run-in with the nudists in an area not far from Los Gatos. In the November 1934 “The Nudist,” within the I.N.C. Directory was an advertisement for the Delian League listing G. Marcellus Spray as the Director and using an Oakland address. These three documents provide that the organization, while having multiple names, did exist in 1934 and, over time, has had a continuous run as Lupin Lodge.
Elysia Gardens was established in 1934 on rented land within ten miles of Los Gatos, above the headwaters of Guadalupe Creek. Likely located near the current intersection of Hicks Road and Mt. Umunhum Road, it featured a natural grass field at a local high point with great sun exposure.
In 1935, the Delian League rented an old vineyard within walking distance of a railroad stop in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The property featured a lattice-screened swimming pool. Allen contributed his professional skills in creating photographs and text for the booklet “Elysium,” also known as “Elysium Foundation of California Under the Leadership of George Marcellus Spray.” Classified as a semi-annual publication of the corporation, it appears only this first edition was ever produced. The business address was, again, Allen’s.
Allen continued his third-person writing style but now positioned George Spray as the frontman for Allen’s own ideas. The booklet, sent to interested inquirers from ads placed in regional newspapers, provided an overview of social nudism, participant expectations, membership costs, and even a la carte food items available in the dining room. These were distributed widely and contained photos of social nudity, for which Allen fought numerous legal battles to secure the right to send interstate.
In 1936, the old vineyard was used again by the Delian League. By fall, there was interest among a few in purchasing the land. In October, the Sprays were two of the three incorporators of The Elysium Foundation of California, Inc., which had plans to open health clubs throughout the state. The property was purchased with Allen contributing $5,000, equivalent to about $110,000 in today’s money. The third incorporator was Dr. Eugene W. Laisne, an ophthalmologist from Fresno, California. George Spray applied for and had the Foundation join the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce in 1936.
About a year later, Allen was repaid before the bankruptcy trial in 1938. The third incorporator was allowed to retain the company and property, which evolved into Lupin Lodge. The judge ruled that it was solely the Sprays who had mismanaged the funds and were responsible for the debts. The Elysium Foundation of California ceased after just two years, but the remaining owner continued the nudist activities on the property.
In 1940, George Spray sent a letter to the Governor of California advocating for primary school students to go nude. His efforts made the news but led to no changes. In 1941, the Sprays moved back to their hometown of Tacoma, WA. George died there in 1981, while Serena passed away in 1991 in Pierce, WA.
Allen disappeared from public records and died in 1962 in Alameda County, CA.
Dr. Laisne eventually sold the property to an interested nudist member. 🚀
Lupin Lodge: 75 years of body acceptance and natural freedom
By Glyn Stout | 2010
Preface to Lupin at 75
Though the amateur historian is the same (except twenty-five years older, if not wiser), those who have read the Lupin 50th-year history from 1986 may notice some differences in presentation, perspective, and occasionally facts in this 75th-year update.
Not only are there twenty-five more eventful years to account for, but there also have been other history buff contributors, additional research, and new witnesses to the old Lupin who have emerged and related new information and insight.
In short, there is now enough information for a hefty book or more, but time and space considerations limit this effort to a summarized chronology of the events and people who have influenced Lupin’s life and look over an incredible 75-year life span. (Longevity bottom line: So far, so good, but not without scars.)
There are two unsung contributors to Lupin history deserving special recognition.
Bill Nellis joined Lupin Lodge while stationed at Ft. Ord during the Korean War, stayed long enough to have constructed the playground monkey bars which many a child has since enjoyed, and held fond memories of his Lupin experiences long after moving on. While living in Connecticut he has recently contributed vastly more knowledge about this club’s origins and its founder, George Spray, than was earlier known. His thorough research and meticulous organization have filled many gaps. Bill has also generously donated valuable historical artifacts of the era from his personal collection in addition to his edifying work product.
Wil Binkley was a scholarly WWII veteran who joined Lupin in the late 1950s after earlier membership in Zoro, a Chicago area nudist club founded by Alois Knapp. He was one of the exceptional single males Ethel Plant permitted to join, and he later became one of the few friends and confidants she trusted over a long period.
Wil moved to Lupin after retirement from a county desk job and was cheerfully willing to perform any task from trash collection to lawn-mowing to making bank deposits and retrieving the mail for several management regimes. He never expressed an unkind word about others, held a cosmopolitan view of life and history, and read voraciously. He was a wonderful background source for both Lupin and nudist history, especially from the early 1960s, and a dear friend to many members, guests, and the Stout Family.
Elysium
In the summer of 1935, George Marcellus Spray rented the perfect location for launching his utopian Elysium Foundation of California. Sheltered by sunny wooded slopes with a pristine year-round creek and a panoramic view of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the property offered an easy conversion into what would become the oldest naturist resort in California.
It had been a 110-acre, pre-Prohibition winery adjacent to the Southern Pacific Railroad between Los Gatos and Santa Cruz, near Aldercroft Station just south of Alma. The weekend “Suntan Special” would stop there on request to and from its Boardwalk Beach destination, thus providing roundtrip transportation down the Peninsula from San Francisco to very near the driveway.
Pre-1900 structures included a rustic, uninsulated farmhouse (Lodge) next to a two-story barn/winery (Clubhouse), a livery stable (Office), a gatehouse cabin, and two concrete, natural spring-fed reservoirs for swimming pools. Five small overnight cabins and a snack bar were hastily constructed during the off-season to provide the remaining services needed for launching Spray’s family-friendly nude getaway.
Spray, then 31, was inspired by an expanding European naturist movement—introduced into the US in 1929—which essentially promised healthier body acceptance through recreational social nudity. First opening the visionary Elysium experience to a curious public in the summer of 1936, George was supported by his entire family: wife Serena, preschool daughter Gloria, and mother-in-law Mary. He was significantly assisted by Albert Arthur Allen, a notable figure photographer, and artist who collaborated with Spray on the club’s original brochure.
Elysium was organized as an incorporated private club so that inappropriate behavior (and suspected predators) could be easily screened out by membership rules and interviews. All alcohol use and public eroticism were banned.
There was no electricity. For Saturday night entertainment, camping couples would dance within a circle of headlights and synchronized car radios.
The enterprising Spray sent out Bay Area press releases, submitted articles and photos to “The Nudist” magazine, held open houses, spoke before San Jose Chamber of Commerce meetings, and promoted Elysium membership and naturist values at any public opportunity. He was an articulate spokesman and lucid writer who apparently encountered little or no public opposition of record.
Although Spray had some early success—attracting up to 200 mostly San Francisco members seeking sunny weekend escape from summer fog, the year-round economic struggle of maintaining such an unconventional, highly seasonal enterprise during the Great Depression proved overwhelming. He was forced to end his financial involvement and move his family from the property after his second open summer in 1937, though they remained participants in the surviving club for several years.
The Spray family had optimistically planted their Christmas tree on the Lodge lawn in 1936. It has survived and thrived, a lasting symbol of their Edenic dream left for a freedom-loving naturist posterity to cultivate.
During 1938 Gene Laisne, an entrepreneurial member trusted by Spray, stepped forward to fill the leadership role in keeping the club alive. He floated notions of creating a Polynesian village theme to improve results. He backed off entirely a year later (after he married his bookkeeper), probably for the same limitations Spray could not overcome.
Less than a year later George Spray (as MC) and Albert Arthur Allen (as set designer) would coproduce “Elysium”, an artfully lighted stage presentation of thirty nude models created for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island. (Tagline: “Elysium shows you the World of Tomorrow where Fashion is unknown and clothing a thing of the past.”) Theater admission cost a quarter. (A more famous competitor, “Sally Rand’s Nude Ranch”, was also an exhibitor at the expo which celebrated recent completions of both Golden Gate and Bay Bridges.)
Rock Canyon Lodge
In 1939 Gene Laisne turned the club’s operation over to an ad hoc group of dedicated members, who conscientiously passed the hat thereafter for the forty dollars monthly rent. They became an informal co-op of volunteers without much formal leadership, though Walt Weber always personally paid the widowed Oakland landlady, Mrs. Taylor, in a timely fashion.
Some cleared underbrush on the adjacent ridge and built simple summer cabins to replace their weekend tents in what would become Little Village. They called the club Rock
Canyon Lodge (a neutral, less utopian identity), and all marketing outreach regressed to word-of-mouth by mostly secretive members who weren’t very interested in membership growth.
After Highway 17 to Santa Cruz was completed in 1940 (thus replacing the recently abandoned, high-maintenance Southern Pacific rail option), San Francisco members could no longer take the “Suntan Special” to the club’s Aldercroft station whistle stop (now near Alma Bridge). Those without automobiles were out of luck.
After Pearl Harbor changed everything in 1941, wartime disruptions, plus gasoline and tire rationing, would soon make Highway 17’s four-lane driving convenience a moot improvement. By WWII’s end in 1945, a much-diminished membership had become less frequently able to enjoy regular outings at their barely surviving club. It was very nearly another casualty of war.
Villa Paulette becomes Lupin Lodge
In 1946 French naturist members George and Paulette Bouffil surprised the remaining dozen or so couples by privately purchasing the property and becoming the de facto proprietors of Rock Canyon Lodge. After experimenting with the name “Villa Paulette” for a season, they eventually renamed it Lupin Lodge in 1947 (after the lupine wildflower, not the wolf) and resolved to create a more promising future for its loyal naturist members.
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