‘It’s a niche lifestyle that’s not for everyone’: Home in Ponderosa nudist resort could be yours for $350K
Buying this three-bedroom, three-bathroom home in Flamborough will give you access to an Olympic-sized swimming pool, volleyball and tennis courts, a picnic area and a sauna.
It's listed at $350,000 - much less than the average price point in the area - yet it's been stuck on the market for more than a month.
Why? Because you have to be OK with a clothing-optional lifestyle.
The house is located in the Ponderosa Nature Family Nudist Resort, which the park's realtor, CC Alexander, described as an absolutely beautiful community."
It's a niche lifestyle that's not for everyone," said Alexander.
The 1,300-square-foot listing at 23 Rodeo Dr. is complete with a European-style kitchen, a four-piece spa bathroom in the basement and a screened outdoor gazebo. Its price point is significantly below the September 2021 $1,222,475 average cost for residential properties in the area, according to recent figures from the Realtors Association for Hamilton-Burlington.
Alexander said the home is an excellent investment, and leased land properties appreciate at the same rate as others, even though the initial price point tends to be lower. Plus, the listing doesn't note you have to be a member to own it unless you want to take advantage of all the property has to offer.
The nearly 100-acre park nestled in a forested area was founded in 1964. It's a community for naturists," the website says, or in other words, people who enjoy being naked and don't subscribe to the notion people should have to wear clothes.
Ponderosa provides space for patrons to enjoy the nudist lifestyle all year round," and they tackle some misconceptions about the park on their website. For example, it's not a swinging club," and members must visit the park at least twice for management to vet their membership request to weed out folks there for nefarious reasons.
The (resort) owners are working hard to keep the integrity of the park," said Alexander. And that includes abiding by their strict clothing-free rules on the premises if your membership is accepted.
If you have non-member guests over and visit one of the park's amenities, they'll have to leave their clothes at the door, too, as clothed visitors make (their) nudist patrons uncomfortable," the website says.
But demand for the park is growing with new folks looking to test out this lifestyle, said Alexander, and leased land homes are growing in popularity for the amenities they offer.
(Ponderosa) is really quite remarkable. It's a beautiful place to live," Alexander said.
Will the quaint home on Rodeo switch hands any time soon? Time will tell.
Alessia Passafiume is an intern reporter with The Spectator. Reach her via email: apassafiume@thespec.com