Green Goose Club

by 

Kathy Petras

Library Associate

VWMFH&LC

Sometimes the topics for our blog posts come to us in very serendipitous ways. That is especially true of today's topic: The Green Goose Club, one of the oldest family-oriented nudist clubs in the U.S.

National Sunscreen Day is an unofficial holiday that reminds us that while exposure to sunlight is essential for our body's production of vitamin D, it can also cause irreversible damage to our skin that can result in skin cancer. The higher the SPF (sun protection factor) in your sunscreen or sunblock, the better. As the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention says, "Don't fry!"

This leads us very indirectly to the subject of today's blog, Medina County's own nudist resort, Green Valley. Because, you know, nudists can never have enough sunscreen.

I was recently reminded about the club when I was reading the third book in the Carolina Slade Mystery series by C. Hope Clark, titled Palmetto Poison. The quirky protagonist followed some clues, and her missing sister, to a local nudist resort in the South Carolina Low Country. 

Does the Medina club still exist?

Yes. It does.

But before you get all twitterpated*, some history...

Nudity, just like clothing preferences and styles, is a societal issue. During the early part of human history, clothing was only used to protect the body against the natural environment. There are some cultures where nudity is still the norm.

Indeed, public nudity is still accepted in certain situations, such as Japanese baths, saunas, and specially designated beach areas. But the Puritans and the Victorian era curtailed nudity, seeing it, and the human body, as inherently sinful. 

A resurgence of interest in nudity grew out of the health movements of the late 19th century in Europe and the return of the Olympics, which were originally held in the nude. And for some, it was a reaction against rigid moral attitudes.

Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) gymnasium - founded 1888 in London
Encyclopædia Britannica - https://www.britannica.com/topic/YMCA#/media/1/654082/76363

The first known nudist club was Freilichtpark in 1903 in Germany. After World War I, Clubs sprang up in France, called The Sparta Club, and the Spielplatz in England. Returning soldiers brought the concept home to America with them. 

The American League of Physical Culture was founded in 1929 to promote nudism. The first official camp in the United States was Sky Form in New Jersey which opened in May of 1932. 

And in 1936, in Medina County, The Green Goose Club was formed "to promote interest in outdoor life, recreation & amusement and the clothing prohibited, family oriented lifestyle" Green Goose Club claims to be one of the oldest family-oriented nudist clubs in the U.S. Originally the Club owned 100 acres.

The first few years were very active for the new club:

• 1937 - March - they sponsored the president of the American Sun Bathing association to speak at a hotel in Cleveland. In the newspaper, Green Goose Club is described as "developing a recreation center and group of country homesites south of Cleveland."
• 1937 - May - held a recital to raise money for "convalescents, under-privileged youngsters... referred to them by such institutions as the Cleveland Clinic"
• 1937 - July - 4th of July celebrations with fireworks. Also, three cottages have been built
• 1937 - August - Chapel is dedicated on the shores of Green Goose Lake
• 1938 - May - The Club sponsors a meeting in Cleveland extolling the benefits of living a naked life.

Medina County Gazette  March 3, 1939 Page 1

But then 1939 rolled around. 

An Ohio Representative from Delaware County by the name of Keller introduced a bill to outlaw mixed gender nudist camps in Ohio. Four men from Medina testified in support of the bill.

This kind of backlash occurred in Michigan and New York States as well.

The bill passed through the Senate late in May of 1939 and the governor signed it into law in June. The law took effect 90 days later.

Somehow, the club continued in existence. 

Did they don clothes? 

Did they become a single gender club? 

Did they operate privately behind locked gates and high hedges?

In 1943, they renamed the club the Green Valley Outing Club.

In 1955, they had a different set of legal problems. The officers of the club claimed that their replacements had been voted into office in an "illegal election at an unauthorized meeting."  The court eventually found in favor of the new officers. In the article the club's purpose was stated as "to promote interest in the outdoor life." 

Also in 1959, their long time gate keeper, Mrs. Flora Belle Larsonier, was struck and killed by an automobile while walking along a road one late February evening. It is unclear why the 72 year old woman was out walking in February.

Then, in 1973, Ohio's new criminal code permitted nudist camps as long as "participants take necessary and reasonable precautions to insure their privacy."

Medina County Gazette September 11, 1974 Page 1

Whatever it's status was between 1939 and 1973, the Camp was definitely back up and running as a nudist camp in 1974!

However, that same year, a pilot was fined $8,000 for "buzzing" the camp 8 separate times. He was low enough that the identification number on his small Piper airplane could be tracked down and he could be prosecuted.

In 1995, the Club's name changed to Green Valley Outing Club, by which name it is still known. On Facebook, the group is known as Green Valley Family Nudist Club and on camping.org, the name given is Green Valley Family Naturist Park.

And as recently as 2016, Rachel Hunt wrote an article for Cleveland Scene Magazine on the club. 

There's plenty to do while visiting the Camp where activities include:

• RV hookups
• Rental cabins
• Tent camping
• Heated clubhouse
• Hot tub
• Hiking trails
• Volleyball
• Basketball
• Pickle ball
• Horseshoes
• Shuffleboard 
• Miniten
• Mentaque
• Children's playground
• Pond with pedal boat & stocked with fish.

Shuffleboard court from their web site.

And they have a set of policies that caused one group to be expelled in 2000 for not abiding by the rules:

• Must provide a government issued photo ID that is checked against the National and Ohio Registered Sex Offenders Registry.
• People are known by first names only. Personal information is shared only if so chosen.
• Strive to maintain a family-friendly atmosphere.
• Respect each other's privacy
• Photography is outlawed.
• "Suggestive familiarity" is prohibited.
• Staring is NOT acceptable behavior. (emphasis mine)
• Keep a towel handy for sitting purposes.
• Liquor & firearms are prohibited.
• Illegal drugs are strictly prohibited.
• Children are welcome at Green Valley. Parents are responsible for their safety and behavior.
• Both parents/guardians must give their consent for a minor to visit Green Valley. 

The Club is a member of AANR - the American Association of Nude Recreation

And now you know...

*twitterpated - 1. In a state of nervous excitement 2. Infatuated or obsessed. Made popular from the Disney movie "Bambi" - From lexico.com