Historic nude resort in Bay Area hills put up for sale
`Spectacular' Lupin Lodge on 100-plus acres might be getting a new owner
A historic nude resort nestled in the treecovered hills of Los Gatos is up for sale after the longtime owner decided to move on from operating the beloved site.
Lupin Lodge, founded during the Great Depression, has for decades been a magnet for social nudity enthusiasts and naturists.
But now the lodge and its 112 bucolic acres perched just south of the Lexington Reservoir off Highway 17 are up for sale. What ultimately will become of the property — and the beloved haven for nudists — remains unclear.
“It's a spectacular place, a beautiful property and a great community,” said Lori Kay Stout, the current owner and operator of Lupin Lodge.
Founded in 1935 on the site of an old winery that was forced to close due to Prohibition, the naturist resort has survived economic collapse, a world war, creditors, recessions, wildfires and other adversity.
The Stout family has owned the property and the resort — the oldest business in the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce — since 1977. Stout declined to disclose the asking price.
After her husband, Glyn Stout, died in 2015, Lori Kay Stout became the sole owner and operator of the lodge. Despite a dedicated and skilled staff, keeping up with everything gradually became a significant burden.
“It's my health and it's a lot to keep an eye on,” she said. “I have to deal with 38 agencies in terms of paying taxes, compliance, regulations and paperwork. I have a great staff. But I'm just one person.”
Though the coronavirus sent people fleeing from restaurants and offices, the pandemic spurred increased visits and sales for the nude resort.
“There's been a big uptick in business because of the pandemic,” Lori Kay Stout said. “People want to go hiking and go outside. People have a great chance to connect here after being so isolated.”
Patrons from Oakland and San Francisco often traveled to the resort by
taking a now-defunct train known as the Sunshine Express, which typically operated during the summer.
Over the decades, the resort also hosted national naturist and nudist conferences, she said. During the 1940s and 1950s, with assistance from the San Jose Chamber of Commerce, the resort hosted nudist conventions with more than 1,000 attendees.
One of the most dire physical threats to the resort
was the Great Lexington Fire of 1985. The wildfire torched nearly 14,000 acres and destroyed numerous homes.
But the newly renovated and revamped resort survived the blaze. The Stout family provided a staging area for firefighters, equipment and bulldozers to combat the inferno.
The property has just gone up for sale and may not be on the market long. In the past, multiple wouldbe
buyers have emerged with unsolicited offers.
“We are excited for what the future will bring,” said Charles Kuo, Lupin's manager. “With an extensive use permit, ideal location, gorgeous parklike grounds and facilities, we anticipate a lot of interest in the sale.”
The site is dotted with redwood trees and old oaks. Deer frequently visit the grounds and drink from a creek on the property.
Regardless of what the future holds and how a buyer plans to use the property, Lupin Lodge will have a lasting legacy long after Lori Kay Stout moves on.
“We have a worldwide following,” Lori Kay Stout said. “One of our colleagues in the business has told us that we are considered thought leaders. At one time, single people were not allowed to visit, but we changed that. We have attracted a lot of younger people. We embrace the Burning Man demographic. We embrace the idea of being body-positive, clothes-free and letting go of shame.”
The lodge offers an array of activities, including a swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, volleyball court, tennis court, petanque, basketball net, tetherball, pickleball, children's playground, table tennis, books, puzzles, board games and cable TV in the clubhouse lounge.
Even with all of these amenities, Lori Kay Stout said, the natural setting is the real draw for visitors.
“It's really close to Los Gatos but you feel that it's really remote with all of the redwood trees and old oaks,” she said. “We use only a small portion of it. Most of the acreage is pristine.”