Residents of Olive Dell, a 136-acre naturist community in the San Jacinto foothills, are doing their part to fight this cause in court. They are suing the property’s new owners following a contentious 2015 decision to turn their decades-old nudist enclave into a “textile park.” Over 50 current and former community members have shown their resolve to defend their home by suing on their behalf. They are suing on civil rights, unfair business practices, financial elder abuse and labor violation grounds.
First opened in 1952, Olive Dell has long honed its reputation as a beloved destination for naturists. It boasts a welcoming community, low-cost housing, and spectacular access to hiking trails. Many of their residents either live in RVs or mobile homes. They pay an annual membership fee that gives them access to shared space amenities such as a pool, showers, a clubhouse, and a restaurant. Over the decades, the community has developed a reputation as one of Southern California’s friendliest nudist resorts.
That’s because in 2019, Mark Glasier, Brian Cleland, and Tina Coffelt bought the property. Upon acquiring Olive Dell, the new owners pledged to maintain its status as a nudist property, assuring residents that the community’s traditions would continue. Then, in late 2024, they made the decision to start requiring specific types of clothing at all times while on property. For residents, this decision marks the beginning of what they call a “significant cultural change.”
Residents have been vocal about their anger against the decision. It’s not that they want to wear clothes—they’re compelled to put on garments or lose the ability to exist in their lone abode. Nancy Roeder has called Olive Dell home for more than a decade. She spoke stirringly about nonprofit organizations’ dismay over the pending change, claiming that, “We’re only trying to stay alive.”
The lawsuit contends that the owners have acted in reckless disregard of creating conditions which would drive existing residents out of their homes. Often, these residents include seniors on fixed incomes, veterans, and persons with disabilities. Frances M Campbell, an attorney for plaintiffs, underscored the civil rights aspect of the case.
“This at its heart is an anti-discrimination case.” – Frances M Campbell
Campbell continued his blistering attacks on the owners for their plan to institute new rules and procedures.
“That’s not the way rules work in mobile home parks. There’s a process.” – Frances M Campbell
The lawsuit details how the new owners have implemented a wide range of rules that appear to be aimed specifically at pushing residents out. The complaint goes on to claim that the Defendants adopted each of the new rules, procedures, and their actions, which are discriminatory. Their intention was to rid the Ranch of any occupants.
The situation is escalating, and one of the owners even called their enemies in management critics “nasty people.” This seemingly off-hand comment speaks volumes of the disconnect that has grown between the new ownership and the people who live in the community.
Though the threat by the new laws looms large, residents don’t plan on giving up their homes and lifestyle without a battle. It’s a testament to all the work and heart that so many people have invested in turning Olive Dell around. Through litigation they seek a change in course for the future of the property.
“They are basically making the place as nice as they can with their own money and labor and hoping this lawsuit changes something.” – Frances M Campbell
The result of this lawsuit has potential national implications for other such communities threatened with loss of ownership or change in cultural identity. As the legal proceedings unfold, residents of Olive Dell anxiously await clarity on their future within a community they have long cherished.