Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, July 12, 1993                   TAG: 9307120077
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SOUTHAMPTON                                LENGTH: Medium

NUDIST PARK'S WEEKEND GIVES GUESTS A PEEK

The nudist community held an open house Saturday, where members welcomed guests to observe National Nudist Weekend at the isolated compound about 10 miles south of Smithfield.

"It's wonderfully relaxing," said Juan Acosta, a former Navy navigation officer. "There's no silly inhibitions, nobody puts on airs. You don't worry about how big, how fat . . . all this business."

The club has about 600 members and another 400 regular visitors who travel from as far as Northern Virginia, park owner Bob Roche said. Members include homemakers, professionals and retirees.

Many members and guests beat the sweltering heat with a volleyball game in the pool or by singing songs in the shade with an acoustic guitarist.

After Don and Sandy Davis saw White Tail Park listed in a guide to parks and camping sites, they decided to leave their Suffolk home and give it a try. They soon looked like nudist camp veterans. Don Davis said they'll probably join the club.

"We've been here 11 years and didn't even know this place was here," said Davis, a letter carrier. "We got tired of sitting at home and watching the air conditioner trying to hold it at 85 degrees, so we gave it up."

Being nude removes the pretentiousness of clothing, said Jim Young of Chesterfield County, who shed everything but his tattoos and sunglasses.

"Here, you're never out of style," he said.

"I thought this was a hunt club for years," said Powhatan resident Ken Kirby, who retired from McDonnell Douglas Corp.'s computer data division after 17 years. "Then I saw a thing about a nude art show in the paper."