1 of 7
JoAnn Tilford
These are views from Cypress Cove Nudist Resort RV Park, the fire pit at Cypress Cove, and the photos with water are views of Brown lake at Cypress Cove- a 50-acre natural lake owned by Cypress Cove along with all of the surrounding protected wetlands.
2 of 7
JoAnn Tilford
3 of 7
JoAnn Tilford
4 of 7
JoAnn Tilford
5 of 7
JoAnn Tilford
6 of 7
JoAnn Tilford
7 of 7
JoAnn Tilford
Words by Elizabeth Hensley, Photos by JoAnn Tilford.
I remember my first time showering at the gym on the road. I forgot the shampoo, had to run to my locker soaking wet, then I forgot my loofah. It was a fiasco.
Dealing with a lack of privacy is something I'm still getting used to. But for the most part, I've been surprised at how well we've done showering semi-regularly with our gym memberships and emptying our travel toilet at rest stops and Wal-Marts.
In early October we attended the Mid-Atlantic Tiny House Expo in West Friendship, Maryland, where about 10,000 people walked through our bus in two days. One of the most popular questions we got was "how do you shower on the bus?" Even though our water system isn't set-up yet, I'd find myself heading to our sink faucet, unhooking it and pointing it out the window. "See?" I'd say. "It's a sink and an outdoor shower."
My confidence often brought ease to inquiring minds impressed by the duality of this amenity. In reality, I have never used an outdoor shower. What will the setting be like? I certainly will not be in the middle of a Wal-Mart parking lot on the road. Will I use it in a rural setting? With clothing or without?
One of the major changes since beginning full-time RV-ing is being comfortable doing things in public that we used to do in private. But I learned my discomfort doesn't have to be a constant.
Throughout his life, my husband Richard has embraced taking many outdoor showers in the buff and has a positive body image I admire. Sometimes I wonder if his body freedom stems from when his family moved to Florida from Connecticut and spent several months at Cypress Cove Nudist Resort. His grandparents moved here in 1985. His grandmother and mother live here still.
Cypress Cove is a clothing-optional nudist resort located in Kissimmee, FL. It is a haven for naturist snowbirds and permanent residents alike. "The Cove," as is affectionally called, has many amenities for RV-ers including a sandy beach and private lake, firepits, two heated swimming pools and Jacuzzis, tennis courts, restaurants, a spa and fitness centre, with many events held throughout the year.
Richard's experience in a small travel trailer at Cypress Cove impacted the way he viewed life, one which he remembers being punctuated by bike rides, playing shuffleboard and going to the lake. Sometimes he would only go inside to sleep. "There are many definitions of home," he says. "To me, home represents living where you want and how you want. It's all about freedom, clothes or no clothes."
Ottawa-based Psychologist and clinical relationship therapist, Sue McGarvie, has been coming to Cypress Cove seasonally since 2007. "Canada's paradise four months out of the year," she says, but tries to spend at least five months in central Florida when temperatures dip.
McGarvie finds her connection to the Cove through body acceptance and community, adding that it's not about looking perfect: "It's about being accepted as you are, not as you're ‘supposed' to be." She also notes that being nude can break down social barriers: "When you take off people's trappings you don't know if they're the CEO or the janitor."
One misconception is that nudist resorts are "rustic hippy communes," which is not the case at the Cove. Naturism or nudism as it is known in the United States refers to people who enjoy simply enjoy being nude in public settings. Many "just want the sun on their skin or the breeze on their skin, and just like the openness of not wearing clothes," McGarvie says. "When I talk to nudists, what they regret is not having done it earlier."
Nudism or naturism can be used interchangeably. However, naturist, the term most often used in Canada, is often linked to spiritual connections between people and the natural environment. The practice is not sexual, meaning that all members of the family are welcome to take part, and there are strict rules surrounding PDA among adults at the resort.
According to the Cypress Cove website, "We appreciate a tender moment between two adults in love, but public displays of affection should be discreet and innocent…Our goal is to maintain a safe, welcoming environment where our guests can truly relax and feel comfortable. If you agree, we hope to see you by the pool!"
Cypress Cove offers year-around complimentary tours of the resort's facilities and to go over etiquette. With the tour, they also offer discounts including a half-price day visit, or the third night free at the Villas, Cypress Cove's resort hotel. There is also a large campground on site.
RV campsites offer 100 amp electric service (2 x 50 amp, a 30 amp and a 20 amp), complimentary wireless internet and TV with adapter check-out service for a deposit, concrete pad on full hook-up sites, laundry facilities on site, and lake-front tent dry camping, and every seventh day is free. "After Christmas, you watch the RVs roll in," says McGarvie. Some guests book a year ahead to make sure they can reserve a spot.
With its location in central Florida, visitors can visit large attractions such as Disney and Universal Studios, but can also see the best wild Florida has to offer. McGarvie notes the "amazing lake where you can paddleboat with the alligators, and as a Canadian, that's very cool." Nearby, is also the Osceola District Schools Environmental Study Center, home to Reedy Creek Swamp and boardwalk, which is open to the public on weekends.
But in the end, McGarvie chalks it up to community: "If you want privacy, to be out in nature, you can find an isolated spot to bring your RV. But if you want friends, if you want people, the Cove is a great place for that."
Cypress Cove Nudist Resort
Telephone: (888) 683-3140, Fax: (407) 933-3559
4425 Pleasant Hill Road
Kissimmee, Florida, FL 34746 United States