Rock Lodge Club - Stockholm, New Jersey, USA
Rock Lodge Club planted its roots in the beginning years of the nudism movement in America over ninety years ago in 1932 as a respite from nearby New York City. To this day, it remains the closest currently operating nudist resort to our home on Long Island, despite still taking on average at least 3 hours in the car to get there when accounting for traffic. Rock Lodge is a classic staple in American nudist history and is uniquely home to the Stone House built by A. L. A. Himmelwright in 1907, a historic building that has been preserved and is even available to rent for overnight accommodations! While we did not stay in the stone house, it's a wonderful piece of architecture and we are so thankful that it has been maintained over generations at Rock Lodge.
In terms of accommodations, Rock Lodge is home to a number of residents with private homes and camping arrangements, however, the Bungalow (which functions as sort of a centerpiece of the resort and serves partially as a club house with shared kitchen, restrooms, and showers) is available for limited overnight stays as well. In addition to those amenities, this centralized social area is also home to a hot tub (no pool; more on that later), community fire pit and BBQ picnic area, as well as multiple sports courts. Rock Lodge also has magnificent hiking trails to explore, as the property sits amidst nature on upwards of 140 acres of forest land. In lieu of a pool that is typical at most nudist resorts of this size, Rock Lodge is home to an amazing natural lake (and small beachfront sandy area) that is perfectly suited for swimming and watersports. There are plentiful "lake toys" and kayak or boat rentals available on an honor system, and some of the kind residents may even let you borrow some of their more sophisticated equipment (like stand-up paddle boards). I was not a huge lake swimmer (lack of opportunity more than anything) growing up, but it felt extremely comfortable and natural to be swimming sans clothes in the lake at Rock Lodge. There are even two floating docks positioned in the middle of the lake where you can stop and take a breather or lay out in the sun for awhile. If fishing is your thing, you are allowed to catch and release fish in the lake as well. Last mention about the lake: there is a great hiking trail that tracks the perimeter of the lake and takes you over the bridge and through some pretty neat areas of the property. Be sure to check that out when you're there!
While you can certainly "feel" the age of the resort (which can be a wonderful thing from a historic perspective), the friendly team of residents, members, and volunteers do a wonderful job of making everyone feel at home while continuing to modernize the property as much as possible. Do note that as of this writing, Rock Lodge requires all visitors to fill out a visitor request form and be pre-screened prior to their arrival. It also helps if you know a current member that can refer you (perhaps even for discounted pricing), but that is absolutely not necessary for access. While it may seem outdated or laborious, I filled out this form just days before our first visit to the club and they were extremely accommodating at turning everything around quickly and welcoming us with open arms just days later! If you should find yourself in the NY/NJ area with some time to plan ahead for a visit, be sure to add Rock Lodge to your list!
Learn more and plan your visit at the official Rock Lodge Club website.
