Long before today’s campgrounds and outdoor resorts became popular, Atlantic County was home to one of the nation’s best-known naturist destinations.
During National Nude Recreation Week, observed this year from July 6-12, it’s an opportunity to look back at Sunshine Park, a unique resort in Mays Landing that welcomed generations of visitors and became a fixture of South Jersey history.
Co-founded in the 1930s by Dr. Ilsley Boone, a minister, geologist and prominent advocate of the American naturist movement known affectionately as “Uncle Danny,” Sunshine Park was nestled along the Great Egg Harbor River in the Pine Barrens. The tea-colored tidal river, stained by cedar trees lining its banks, provided a picturesque backdrop for a resort unlike any other in the region.
For decades, Sunshine Park attracted families seeking a clothing-optional lifestyle centered on recreation and community. At its peak, the resort welcomed as many as 750 families on busy summer weekends. Guests stayed in cabins and enjoyed a wide range of amenities, including a swimming pool, tennis courts, miniature golf, a sauna and whirlpool.
Evenings often brought volleyball games, while older visitors gathered for bocce and shuffleboard. Weekend entertainment included dances, talent shows, singalongs and community events held in the recreation hall. Although the park emphasized family recreation, it also gained a reputation for attracting Atlantic City showgirls looking to achieve an even suntan.
The resort became so well known that motorists traveling Route 50 were greeted by a memorable billboard inviting visitors to “get a full tan” at Sunshine Park.
One former employee recalled working as a teenage waitress at the park, where wearing a white apron was often the only required uniform. For longtime members, the relaxed atmosphere simply reflected everyday life within the naturist community.
As Sunshine Park’s popularity grew, however, so did its challenges. The park’s infrastructure struggled to keep pace with increasing attendance, particularly its sanitary systems. Weekend rates of just $14 per couple drew large crowds, and neighboring residents became increasingly vocal with their concerns. Township officials eventually cited the park for health code violations, and in 1983 a judge ordered Sunshine Park to close.
After the closure, the property attracted interest from a casino developer, who reportedly offered $2 million for the site. The deal never materialized, and the buildings were ultimately left vacant to deteriorate.
Today, Sunshine Park remains one of the more unusual chapters in South Jersey history, remembered by many locals as a place that reflected a very different era along the banks of the Great Egg Harbor River.
