Sun Valley Gardens

Sun Valley Gardens one of the first nudist camps in Canada was started in 1954 by Karl Reuhle. ¹Sun Valley Gardens At opening Sun Valley has 18 members but grew to over 300 members in just few years. This was due to Reuhle’s relentless advertising and recruitment efforts . ²Nudists bare all for journalist June Callwood Sun Valley was location originally on 25 acres of woodlands near St Catherine’s Ontario. Later an additional 14 acres were added to house a year round permanent naturist community.

Serviag: Southern Ontario, with Toronto, Hamilton, Niagara Falls, Western New York with Buffolo, Rochester and Erie, Po. Thor finest Nudist Summer Resort within your reeh. No work to do. No shares to buy. No club politics. Try us first, compare all the many extra we offer 80 ft swimming pool with crystal clear water. Fine accommodations. Warm showers. Snackbar Flushes, Member-owned cottage. Rec. room with TV. Camping, trailor lots. Largest membership in Canada. Nudism is our one and only concern. – Sun Valley ad in nudist magazine ³ Modern Sunbathing, August 1962

Ruehle and his family, his wife Marlies and son Michael, appeared on the Canadian Broadcast Corporation with journalist June Callwood on November 5 1961. Karl and his wife Marlies and their young son participated in the almost 14 minute long interview. ⁴Nudists bare all for journalist June Callwood Michael Ruehle wrote a first person account of his life growing up in a nudist family.

The stranger thing for me was when I first went to school and had to understand that it was expected that people always wear clothes. ⁵Growing up with nudists

Sun Valley closed for financial reasons in 1982. ⁶Pelham’s Sun Valley Gardens—the place to bare it all

• Sun Valley Gardens photo spread – Sunbathing for Health, March 1957
• About Sun Valley Gardens by Karl Ruehle – Sunbathing for Health, June 1957
• Article on nudism by Karl Ruehle – Sunbathing for Health, July 1957
• Article on the first visit to a naturist club – Sunbathing for Health, November 1957
• Profile on Karl Ruehle – Modern Sunbathing, May 1962
• Teenagers at Sun Valley Gardens – Modern Sunbathing, August 1962
• Profile on Sun Valley Gardens – 1965 Sunbathing Annual

References

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  Sun Valley Gardens
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  Nudists bare all for journalist June Callwood
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   Modern Sunbathing, August 1962
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  Nudists bare all for journalist June Callwood
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  Growing up with nudists
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  Pelham’s Sun Valley Gardens—the place to bare it all
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  Sun Valley Gardens