Saturday, June 21, 2008

Caliente Homeowners Fight Back: De-Swing This Place!

Caliente is handed a task list

By Chuin-Wei Yap, Times Staff Writer
In print: Saturday, June 21, 2008


LAND O'LAKES — An attorney for 351 property owners at Caliente Resort & Spa has laid down a list of conditions for the nudist resort to repair its reputation or face a lawsuit.

Calling it a way to "open the door for dialogue" between the resort and its homeowners, Anne Hathorn, of the Clearwater firm of Becker & Poliakoff, said the resort must cut off ties with Web sites that promote the swinger lifestyle, tighten control on the use of Caliente's name in event advertisements and where the ads are distributed, and get Caliente reinstated in the American Association for Nude Recreation.

Caliente Resort said it plans to keep on marketing to those it calls "nontraditional nudists."

Caliente was embroiled in controversy last month when the association temporarily suspended its membership and opened an investigation into sexually charged monthly parties at Caliente organized by Aahz Party Lifestyle Group, a "lifestyle," or swingers, group with Caliente's blessing.

The association promotes family-friendly nudism. Its investigation puts at stake Caliente's access to marketing assistance and membership subsidies for tourists, among other advantages.

Caliente is not just a resort. It is also a full-time home for hundreds of people, many of whom objected to the swinger parties, called "Swingfest." They hired Hathorn, who wrote on June 10 to R. Gale Porter, Caliente's attorney, demanding the resort clean up its own image.

"If the reputation of the club changes to something more risque, people will worry about bringing their kids," Hathorn said Friday. "The board wanted to open the door for dialogue and come to a reasonable resolution. So far, we haven't heard back."

Angye Fox, Caliente's spokeswoman, said Friday that the resort is a family-friendly place with rules that create a safe environment, but the resort refused to scale back what it called a brand campaign focused on "nontraditional nudists."

"Caliente has an aggressive marketing plan that targets outside the traditional nudist clientele," she said. "This has created dissatisfaction with a minority of homeowners in the Caliente community. Caliente intends to move forward in expanding our brand to nontraditional nudists and people who want to enjoy occasional skinny-dipping in luxury both here and at our resort in the Dominican Republic."

Hathorn acknowledged in her letter that "the resort has recently taken (actions) to alleviate the members' concerns, including withdrawing the resort's direct participation in Swingfest and continuing to communicate with the (property owners' board) about its concerns."

But she warned of legal consequences.

"The board of directors has a fiduciary duty to act on behalf of the (homeowners) association members, and the board will not hesitate to do so in this regard, to whatever extent is necessary, including legal action for violation" of the declaration of restrictions and covenants for Caliente, Hathorn wrote.

"They will realize they need to work together," Hathorn said Friday. "It's in everyone's best interests for the two entities to work together."

Chuin-Wei Yap can be reached at cyap@sptimes.com or (813) 909-4613.

7 Comments:

Blogger Full Time Nudists said...

About a year ago, some friends of ours visited Caliente for the first time and were very seriously considering buying a casita home there to use for vacations and eventually as a place they could retire to in a few years. Everything was ready to go and they went to the closing, only to discover some important aspects of the sale were not as they had been told beforehand and which would have materially affected their ownership rights. So, they walked away from the deal at the closing table. Now with all of this drama going on and Caliente in open defiance of the homeowners who have invested literally millions of dollars in the property, they are very glad to be sitting on the sidelines instead of mixed up in the middle of this.

I hope something is worked out and Caliente returns to a showcase resort for social nudism that all nudists can be proud of.

7:46 AM  
Blogger Cap Dagger said...

Caliente is a very good resort and one of the best in the States in my opinion. I hope that the issues are sorted out as we need more of these resorts, not less.


-----------
French naturism

3:11 PM  
Blogger paula said...

Agreed with this "Caliente is a very good resort and one of the best in the States".

philippine real estate

12:38 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I have never been there but I have friend who have and they agree that this place is amazing! They would recommend it to all their friends.

http://www.barretrobison.com

3:40 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Great site. A lot of useful info here. I am sending it to some friends ans also sharing in delicious. And naturally, thanks for your effort!
RES

2:28 AM  
Blogger Clipping Solutions said...


Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic blog post. Many thanks again. clipping path service
Photo Retouching Services
Background Removal Service

10:21 PM  
Blogger ebony lorange said...

Helpful blog here you have shared. I have read and appreciated this well published. Image Retouching
Photo Editing Helps
Neck Joint
Photoshop Guideline
Clipping Path Tutorial
Drop Shadow Helps
Background Remove
Image Editing
Image Cut Out
Photo Manipulation

5:19 AM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home