Frequently Asked Questions

We’d love to have you visit us for a day, a weekend, or longer! For people who are curious about social nudism or might consider joining Oakwood – your first day visit is FREE! Get a tour of our facilities, meet our members, learn more about our events and activities, and experience the joy and freedom of being naked in nature! We understand some people are ready to dive right in to nudism while others may need to ease into it, so you can get undressed to your comfort level upon arrival, although full nudity is required in the pool and saunas.

The first step is to complete the Guest Registration Form and background check. (Given the nature of our club, we run background checks on all our visitors, for your security and peace of mind and that of our members and other visitors. Although your visit is free, there is a $12 fee for the background check.)

Unlike many nudist clubs, we’re not privately owned with paid staff on hand. Oakwood is a member-owned co-op club and members volunteer time to do all the work of running the place. Many of us have jobs during the week and are only at the club on weekends, so please allow at least a week before you want to visit for us to complete the process. Also for that reason, we only schedule first-time visits on the weekend, which is also when all the events and activities happen. Weekday visits are possible but may take more advanced notice.

We are open all year for full members. (Those winter saunas can feel great!) Our main season, when the water is turned on, runs from about April 15 to October 15, depending on weather conditions. Guests and limited members are welcome from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Please contact our membership team for an appointment. (Call or text 651-353-1062 or email info@oakwoodclub.com).

Absolutely! Day visits end at 7 PM but many activities happen in the evening, so staying overnight lets you enjoy community meals, karaoke, dances, card nights, etc.

Set up your tent on one of our unimproved camping sites near a bath house, bring in your camper/RV and park it on one of our full hookup lots, or reserve one of our two rental RVs (photos here). Fees are listed on our rates page. Please make reservations with our membership team. Note that state law requires a backflow valve for each water hookup at all campgrounds. If you don’t have one please let us know. Checkout time is 11:00 am.

We have tenting sites, rental trailers, and RV lots with full hookups available. The club has approximately 80 sites on 40 wooded acres. Ice, WiFi and firewood are available at no extra cost! Our clubhouse has a full kitchen, dining area, game room, TV and reading room, two screened porches, two decks, and restrooms. We have a heated swimming pool, two bath houses with toilets and indoor and outdoor showers, two saunas (one electric and one wood burning), two petanque courts, two sand volleyball courts, a shuffleboard court, a horseshoe court, and a large open area for frisbee golf, cornhole or simply sunning. There also are acres of woods with a hiking trail that partially encircles the main grounds.

Social activities vary each season as members host different events but some regular favorites include volleyball and pickleball tournaments, potluck dinners, dances, karaoke, a wine and cheese tasting, a rib roast, a Hawaiian luau, a body painting contest and an early Halloween party at the end of the season. The highlight of the season is Oakwood Days the second weekend in July, which has included a car show, live music and other fun events! During the winter there are occasionally sauna days or offsite activities with other clubs. Check out our calendar to see what’s scheduled.

Food is not available for sale at Oakwood. Occasionally we will have special events where a meal will be provided for a small donation. These events will be listed on the Oakwood Club calendar. If such an activity isn’t listed, you should assume you will need to bring your own food. There also are many good restaurants in nearby towns and Linwood Pizza delivers to the gate!

The only necessities are towels and sun block! Nudist etiquette dictates that you always carry your own towel to sit on for sanitary reasons. There are deck chairs around the pool, but you may also want to bring a blanket or chairs for sunning in the grassy central Commons area. Bring any food or beverages you want for the day. Alcohol is allowed in moderation although since many people go barefoot, glass containers aren’t allowed other than on individual lots.

Overnight guests may have up to two pets on a leash at their campsite or walking on the roads, in accordance with state and local laws. They are NOT allowed in the Commons area. Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets. We ask that you do not bring your pet(s) for day visits.

This generally happens when one partner is reluctant to come to a “nudist colony” or unsure of what to expect. Rest assured that the Oakwood Club is 100% family-friendly and non-sexual. Inappropriate behavior (anything which requires apology or isn’t appropriate in front of children) is cause for expulsion. Given how sexualized the textile world is, it can be hard to fully comprehend how being naked doesn’t have to be at all sexual until you experience it!

Although we strongly encourage you to visit together so you can both experience Oakwood, it isn’t required.

The more, the merrier! Looking for a unique experience with a friend group? Bring your book club, pickleball group, or walking club. Each adult must complete their own Guest Registration form and background check. 

Absolutely! We are a member-only club, so if you want to visit again after your first free introductory day, you will choose from one of several “limited membership” options which include several day/weekend visits. Details can be found here. If you want to stay for a weekend, renting one of our RVs is always an option.

Even a full membership is very affordable and gives you the flexibility to come and go as you please without a prior reservation. While many full members have a camper and lease a lot for the season, there are also plenty of full “day members” who seldom, if ever, stay overnight, although they always have the option to tent or rent an RV.

Membership numbers fluctuate annually as people join and leave. We currently have approximately 125 members.

Yes! After all, how do you know you’ll like it until you give it a try? We are a member-only club, so if you want to visit again after your first free introductory day, you will choose from one of several “limited membership” options, some of which require membership in an affiliated organization. Details can be found here.

The Oakwood Club is an AANR-affiliated club so if you become a full member, your AANR membership is included in your Oakwood membership fees.

It’s natural to be a little nervous on your first visit to a naturist club. This usually stems from self-consciousness about our bodies or fear of unwanted sexual attention. AANR has some great information on their website under “Nude Recreation.”

BODY IMAGE: No one at Oakwood – or anywhere else for that matter – is a “perfect 10” or has the kind of body you’ll see in a magazine. (They’re all airbrushed anyway!) Like people everywhere, nudists come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and ages. You are sure to see people both larger and smaller than you. We all have lumps and bulges, just in different places! 🙂 The lack of judgement based on physical appearance is one of the things that is so freeing about naturism!

Visitors come to Oakwood nearly every weekend of the season so you won’t draw any special attention. Because people all around you will be partially or fully nude, relaxed, and enjoying their day, most first-timers adjust to social nudity quickly and discover it’s not nearly as big a deal as they thought it would be. Sometimes they start to feel self-conscious about being clothed because they’re likely to be the only ones fully dressed!

SEXUALIZATION: Rest assured that the Oakwood Club is 100% family-friendly and non-sexual. Inappropriate behavior (anything which requires apology or isn’t appropriate in front of children) is cause for expulsion. Given how sexualized the textile world is, it can be hard to fully comprehend how being naked doesn’t have to be at all sexual until you experience it!

Inappropriate behavior (that which requires apology, or would not be appropriate in front of children), engaging in sexual or sexualized activity, taking photos/video, overindulging in alcohol, taking illegal drugs, or acting in any disruptive fashion, are not allowed and may result in being asked to leave the grounds immediately. Refunds will not be given.

Not often, because it isn’t a sexualized situation, but it can happen and it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re aroused. On the rare occasion when this occurs, simply go for a short walk, lay a towel across your lap, turn over, or take a quick dip in the pool until the situation passes.

Oakwood is a non-sexual, family-oriented naturist club, not an adult “lifestyle” resort, so this shouldn’t happen. Unfortunately, some people can’t separate nudity and sexuality. If anyone makes you uncomfortable, report it to a member and steps will be taken to ensure it does not happen again, up to and including their expulsion. Everyone should feel safe and comfortable. Behavior requiring an apology or that isn’t appropriate in front of children is not tolerated.

No, we are a clothing optional club. Nudity is encouraged at Oakwood but not required. We understand that it may take a little while to become comfortable being naked around others. Because people all around you will be nude, relaxed, and enjoying their day, most people feel comfortable being nude after a very short period of time. However, the only place where you are required to be nude is in the pool and saunas. Also, Minnesota weather isn’t always conducive to being naked so you may occasionally see our members partially or fully clothed for practical reasons.

As a member-owned, not-for-profit co-op club, we don’t have management or staff. All workers, including the membership team, are Oakwood member volunteers. They will be partially or fully nude, whatever is comfortable and appropriate for their activity at the time. Someone might throw on shorts while mowing the lawn, for example, or a T-shirt if they’re preparing a meal in the kitchen. But we all come here to experience the freedom of being without clothes!

Privacy is a high priority at Oakwood. It’s unfortunate, but people in the textile world may misinterpret the naturist experience as something sexual or immoral. While some members are open about their participation, others require discretion for personal or professional reasons. We use first names and last initials only, and last names are known only to those who need the information for record keeping, billing, etc.

Unlike many social situations in the textile world, conversations in a nudist setting don’t revolve around what you do or where you live or work. You can disclose as much or as little personal information as makes you comfortable. Posting on social media is not allowed and guests are required to cover their front and back phone cameras. Background checks are handled by a professional outside company and the information isn’t accessible to anyone at Oakwood.

Everyone who has ever visited talks about what a relaxed, friendly and welcoming atmosphere they find at Oakwood! We come from a place of respect and non-judgement, but we also have organizational rules to guide behavior.

As a guest of Oakwood, you must adhere to the same rules as the members. Should you engage in sexual or sexualized activity, take photos/video, overindulge in alcohol, take illegal drugs, or act in a disruptive fashion, you will be asked to leave the grounds immediately and no refunds will be given.

You may find these links helpful if you have further questions about nudism.