In a major change for Southern California’s naturist community, Olive Dell Ranch RV Park and Resort announced on November 4, 2024, that it would become a clothing-mandatory resort. Starting December 6, clothing will be required in all common areas, with the policy extending to all individual sites on January 6, 2025. “After careful deliberation, Olive Dell Ranch RV Park and Resort has reached a decision to become a ‘Textile’ park,” read the notice to site holders. Long known as a clothing-optional haven, Olive Dell’s abrupt change leaves nudist residents reeling, marking a fundamental shift from the community’s historical identity.

The decision comes during a turbulent time for Olive Dell, marked by legal disputes, leadership clashes, and recent tragic events. Once celebrated for its sense of freedom and community, Olive Dell is now caught in a crisis that threatens its very future.

Rising tensions and legal disputes

The tragic deaths of Stephanie and Daniel Menard in late August 2024 have intensified existing tensions at Olive Dell Ranch, a once-thriving naturist resort in Colton, California. The Menards, aged 73 and 79, were reported missing on August 25 after failing to attend church. Days later, their remains were discovered beneath their neighbor Michael Sparks' home; Sparks has since been charged with their murders. This horrific event has laid bare deep-seated conflicts that had been simmering within the Olive Dell community for years, exposing rifts between management, ownership, and long-term residents.

In late 2023, the removal of longtime managers Bobby and Becki Kilborn by the new ownership team shocked and divided residents. Since then, reports of alleged harassment, eviction threats, and retaliatory actions have mounted under the new management led by Tina Coffelt. The Menards, long-time residents, had become increasingly at odds with the new management over a series of issues. They were active participants in a class-action lawsuit against Olive Dell’s management, alleging violations of the Mobilehome Residency Law, retaliatory evictions, and unfair business practices. The suit included complaints about alleged illegal charges and eviction threats toward residents who spoke out, underscoring the discord that had taken root within the community.

The Menards were not alone in their legal struggles at Olive Dell. Several disputes have erupted involving the ranch’s management, including between current and former owners, and even between the current owners themselves. The Kilborns, who had managed the resort for decades, filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit against the owners, including Coffelt, co-owners Brian Cleland and Mark Glasier, and Olive Dell Management, LLC. The Kilborns allege wrongful conduct in their removal.

Coffelt’s role as manager has been a focal point of contention. According to Cleland, a co-owner and former registered agent for the resort, Coffelt assumed day-to-day management without his consent. Cleland asserts that Coffelt, who provided the loan for the 2019 purchase, was not formally listed as an owner, despite her claims. “Tina’s not an owner, she’s not a partner, even though she claims she is,” Cleland told Planet Nude, voicing frustration over his diminishing involvement in the ranch’s operations, adding that he has even considered legal action: “I’ll be filing a lawsuit pretty soon.”

This ongoing discord has fostered an atmosphere of mistrust, with legal battles compounding the community’s grief and frustration. As Cleland pointedly noted, “The Menards were long-time tenants and great people with no enemies, except Tina. The Menards filed many harassment claims against Tina. They were not friendly.”

A storied history now under threat

Founded by nudist pioneer Bill Keissel in 1952, Olive Dell Ranch quickly became an iconic destination, celebrating social nudity in the secluded landscape of San Bernardino County. By 1976, the Kilborn family assumed ownership, and under their stewardship, the club blossomed into a beloved community for Southern California naturists. Bobby and Becki Kilborn continued to manage Olive Dell after it was sold in 2019 to financial investors Mark Glasier and Brian Cleland, who assured residents of their commitment to keep it clothing-optional. Yet, just five years later, those assurances seem to have unraveled.

The removal of the Kilborns in 2023 was a catalyst for widespread discord in the community. Several residents loyal to the Kilborns have since moved out, and those who remain describe a divided community with worsening conditions and a lack of familiar amenities. Allegations of mismanagement, rate hikes, and harassment have persisted, with numerous residents citing the loss of community cohesion.

The decision to require clothing at Olive Dell is a step away from its naturist roots. For longtime residents, the policy change symbolizes a severance from the community’s once-vibrant identity. At the same time, unresolved disputes continue to erode trust, with many residents worried about the park’s long-term viability.

This policy change reaches beyond the small community of Olive Dell Ranch and will be felt by nudists and naturists across Southern California.