Trip report: White Thorn Lodge

This past weekend was White Thorn Lodge’s annual Hawaiian Luau and pig roast. On the recommendation of our good friend Deb who visited WTL last year, my wife and I plus two other couples and our friend Deb made the trip from eastern PA/NJ and Binghamton NY to White Thorn in Darlington PA for the festivities. Last minute car troubles for Deb had her carpooling out with us and after stuffing our Subaru with all of hers and our camping gear and hitching our tent trailer we headed out early Thursday morning for a mid day arrival. Ominous looking clouds and a bit of rain halfway across I-80 had us worried but by the time we arrived at noon the sun was shining. Carol, the person manning the gate and admissions greeted us like we’d known her forever and had us checked in and on our way to nude bliss in no time. The sign stating ‘WTL is a NUDIST resort and nudity is expected’ made me smile. As we drove to the camping area, we immediately remarked to ourselves how neat, clean and orderly everything looked. I mean the grounds were immaculate. Nothing run down, grass manicured, flowers planted, roads graveled, graded and smooth. These people put effort into making sure everything is perfect and it shows. We stripped, set up camp on a very lovely site and us being some of the first there for the weekend had the pick of the litter so to speak and a site with a nice old oak tree that seemed to beckon us with a promise to keep us shaded and cool for our stay.  And that fine tree did just that. The rest of the afternoon was spent swimming in their beautiful pool and making new friends.  And as an added bonus, some old friends that we have not seen in about 5 years decided to visit for the weekend. It was a very pleasant and unexpected surprise indeed. Then it was time for dinner; charcoal going, burgers on and then those ominous clouds reappeared and as we were eating under the awning, a wicked t-storm hit and drenched us.  Oh well, it ain’t camping unless you’re eating a burger naked in a downpour. Friday was spent doing what true nudists do. RELAXING in the pool, catching up on news with friends, reading in the shade and forgetting about the outside world. Friday evening all of our group were invited to the campsite of one of the members and his girlfriend for dinner. They had a very tasty entrée and dessert baking in their dutch ovens. We all brought what we were going to have for supper and added to theirs for an impromptu potluck and had a feast. What wonderful hospitality. Thank you Tom and Kathy. Then off to the pool for the evening for an evening of swimming preceded by a film of a concert of Elvis in Hawaii which was this year’s luau theme. But Saturday was to be the star of the weekend.  The snack bar opens for breakfast and lunch on weekends and the omelet I ordered was done to perfection. Then off to the pool for a couple hours. In the meantime my wife discovered there was a yoga class at 10am.  We love yoga and this was a chance to do it nude in a group setting. Theresa the instructor was awesome. Very knowledgeable and she had us sweating and limber by the end of class. All the while more WTL members, day trippers and folks camping overnight after the pig roast were pouring in all day. When it was all said and done there were probably 600-700 people there for the day. At 5pm they carved the pig and all the potluck dishes everybody brought were lined up on a dozen and a half tables end to end that would make an Army mess Sgt proud. There was no way one could sample all there was to eat. Then the band showed up. A group by the name of Three Strikes Out (or something like that). Anyway they had the place jumping in no time and played 3 sets until 12:30am. The dance ‘floor’ was the sand volleyball court.  Picture 100 naked people rocking the night away out under the stars. Awesome. When the band packed up for the night, we all headed for the pool for another skinnydip.  My wife and I hit the sack at 1pm while the rest of the group headed for the hot tub. I have no idea what time they called it quits. Party animals. Sunday unfortunately, was our go home day. After saying goodbyes and vowing to not let so much time go by until we got together again, we headed out for the 6 hr drive home. A huge thank you to all the members of WTL for making their club a true nudist destination. Next year we all decided to return to WTL for their ‘Hippie Weekend’. Far out man. Can’t wait.