Wisconsin’s Mazomanie Beach, top nudist destination, sees government crackdown
A man sits on a nudist beach along the Baltic Sea coast in northern Germany. Thanks to the opening of a new a nude-friendly hiking trail, German nudists are no longer confined to the beach.
As of Tuesday, the party's over for nudists in Wisconsin — until Saturday, anyway.
Authorities have decided that the state's notorious Mazomanie Beach, a magnet for nudists nationwide, will be closed Monday through Friday in order to limit sex and drug use there, said the Associated Press.
Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) arrested 26 people for illegal sexual activity at the beach and 16 others for drugs over a nine-day period two years ago, according to AP.
Tuesday's measure represents the latest attempt to curb such behavior.
"The goal of this closure is to make Mazomanie Beach a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone who visits or floats past the area," DNR Conservation Warden Nate Kroeplin said, according to Wisconsin's ABC News. "It is clear from our records that the majority of illicit activity is taking place on weekdays. Along with the closure, we will add extra law enforcement presence."
The entire beach — including its islands and forests — will no longer be accessible on weekdays, effective immediately, said AP.
The story you just read is accessible and free to all because our listener community contributes to our nonprofit newsroom. We go deep to bring you the human-centered international reporting that you know you can trust. To do this work and to do it well, we rely on the support of our listeners. If you appreciate our coverage, if there has been a story that made you pause or a song that moved you, would you consider making a gift to sustain our work? All donations between now and June 30 will be matched 2:1, tripling your impact.