Nudist Colony Under SIEGE

California property owners are using utility shutoffs and clothing mandates to force elderly and disabled nudist resort residents from their homes in a shocking case of tenant abuse that reveals how private property rights are being weaponized against vulnerable Americans.

Story Highlights

56 residents of historic Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort filed a $5 million lawsuit against owners who imposed mandatory clothing rules and cut electricity to homes
Elderly, disabled, and veteran residents dependent on medical devices like CPAP machines face health risks from power disconnections
Property owners allegedly renamed facility to evade California tenant protection laws while doubling utility bills and filing 23 eviction notices
Court battle scheduled for February 28, 2026, tests whether nudism qualifies as protected civil right under discrimination laws

Property Owners Weaponize Utility Control Against Tenants

Olive Dell Ranch in Redlands, California, operated as a private nudist resort for decades before Mark Glasier, Brian Cleland, and Tina Coffelt purchased the property for $2.65 million in 2019. The new owners announced in November 2024 that the facility would transition to a “textile” or clothed park, effective January 6, 2025. When residents resisted, owners allegedly disconnected electricity to individual homes, claiming unpaid bills despite residents providing proof of timely payments. This tactic directly endangered vulnerable residents relying on medical equipment including CPAP machines, nebulizers, and pacemaker monitoring devices.

Systematic Harassment Targets Elderly and Disabled Community

The 56 plaintiffs in the lawsuit include retirees, disabled individuals, and veterans like Marine veteran Chet Smith who pay between $550 and $850 monthly for their spaces. Resident numbers dropped from approximately 150 to fewer than 75 as conditions deteriorated under new ownership. Facilities fell into disrepair with green pools, uncollected trash, rat infestations, and power cuts to common areas. Owners replaced electric meters with higher-rate models, doubling or tripling bills while adding charges for surveillance cameras. Attorney Frances Campbell alleges these actions constitute elder abuse and violate California laws prohibiting utility shutoffs intended to force evictions.

Property Rebranding Scheme Evades Tenant Protections

In 2023, the owners renamed the facility “Olive Dell RV Park and Resort,” allegedly to circumvent California’s Mobilehome Residency Law protections that limit rent increases and restrict evictions. This rebranding allowed owners to market new spaces at over $900 monthly to clothed tenants while squeezing out existing nudist residents through harassment and deteriorating conditions. The owners filed 23 unlawful detainer actions to expedite evictions. Owner Tina Coffelt dismissed resident concerns, stating the facility would no longer accommodate nudity and residents should relocate to other nude venues. This calculated strategy prioritizes profit maximization over contractual obligations to existing tenants.

Legal Battle Tests Civil Rights and Contract Law

The residents’ lawsuit seeks at least $5 million in damages, alleging civil rights violations, elder abuse, breach of contract, and illegal utility disconnections. Attorney Campbell argues the clothing mandate discriminates against nudism as a protected lifestyle choice under the Civil Rights Act, particularly given the secluded, private nature of the property. Owners defend their actions under California Penal Code 498, which addresses electricity theft, claiming residents tampered with meters. Police initially treated the dispute as civil but intervened after physical altercations led to mutual arrests. The case proceeds to court on February 28, 2026, with implications for tenant rights and property owner authority across California.

Nudist resort residents furious after property owner demands they put clothes on, cuts off power https://t.co/Ps6lsq5mV5 pic.twitter.com/Ke9p2HklJw

— New York Post (@nypost) February 7, 2026

This dispute reveals troubling realities about property rights versus tenant protections in California. While property owners possess legitimate authority to set facility rules, using utility shutoffs against medically vulnerable residents crosses ethical and legal lines. The owners’ systematic approach—renaming the facility, deteriorating conditions, meter manipulation, and mass eviction filings—demonstrates calculated exploitation rather than good-faith business management. For residents who built community at Olive Dell Ranch over decades, this represents forced displacement from affordable housing in California’s prohibitively expensive market. The court must determine whether owners violated state protections against retaliatory evictions and elder abuse while weighing nudism’s status as a protected characteristic under discrimination law.