From birthday suits to buttoned-up, a beloved Bay Area nude beach is getting a new dress code.
One of California’s most famous clothing-optional beaches is about to trade its free-spirited reputation for an official spot in the state park system, where swimsuits are no longer optional.
State parks officials announced Monday that San Gregorio Ranch, a 245-acre oceanfront property along the San Mateo County coast, will be added to neighboring San Gregorio State Beach. The expansion brings more than a half-mile of sandy shoreline, coastal bluffs, walking trails and a pond into public ownership.
Multiple people commented on the news on social media expressing sadness over the change.
“Unfortunate to lose what makes our part of the coast special and unique, even though it’s a gay beach where I’ve never been,” wrote one user.
“There is no naked sunbathing in state parks (sad face emoji),” commented another.
The property sits just north of the existing state beach near the junction of Highway 1 and Highway 84, a longtime destination for visitors from the Bay Area looking to enjoy the coastline.
For decades, however, the beach attracted a different kind of crowd. The shoreline earned a reputation as one of California’s oldest nude beaches, with generations of visitors embracing its clothing-optional tradition.
The family of longtime owner Walter Bridge maintained the property for years, charging visitors for parking beginning in the 1960s, according to the East Bay Times.
That chapter is coming to an end. Because the land will become part of the California State Park system, visitors will be expected to follow statewide rules requiring appropriate beach attire.
Officials say park rangers typically focus on educating visitors about the rules before resorting to citations.
The Peninsula Open Space Trust, a Palo Alto-based conservation group, purchased the property last year for $10 million and is donating it to California State Parks at no cost. The nonprofit said the transfer will permanently protect the coastline while expanding public access.
The newly acquired section is expected to open to visitors on July 29, with gates open daily from 8 a.m. until sunset.
An $8 vehicle entrance fee will be collected by staff with Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks while state park employees handle maintenance and patrols.
The state expects to officially complete the transfer of ownership within the next year.
