NAKED SPRING BREAK

Many University students flock to traditional spring break sites like South Padre Island and Cancun each year. But if you don't want to travel very far, or want to escape the same ol' mundane beaches and bikinis, shed your suit and head down to Indian Hills Nudist Park in Slidell.

Celebrating nudity since 1971, the 49-acre park is flooded with plush woodlands, nature trails, fishing ponds and - you guessed it - lots of naked people. Visitors can also shoot pool in the clubhouse, perform karaoke, play volleyball or relax by the swimming pool.

Mike Moran, park manager, said Indian Hills welcomes people of all body types and ages. Moran said if University students want to try something a little different for spring break, they can check in for a day or rent an RV and stay all week.

"We're in the middle of some construction because of Hurricane Katrina, but by April it will be finished," Moran said.

Moran said nine tenths of the park is "clothing optional," but visitors must be nude in the pool, the hot tub and the public showers.

"Ninety percent of our people are sunbathers," Moran said. "If [students] want to bring in a band or whatever they can do that, or they can just come in and sunbathe."

Kayla Carter, mass communication freshman, said she usually travels to Destin, Fla., during spring break and prefers to keep her clothes on in public.

"That's just not my thing," she said.

According to Indian Hills' Web site, 40 million Americans have skinny-dipped in mixed company at least once in their lifetime.

Moran said non-nudists are skeptical of nude lifestyle because they are "very misunderstood."

"We love nature. Definitely, we are not swingers. People think it's about sex," Moran said. "But we have strict rules: you get caught 'doing it,' you're done for life."

A day pass costs $20 for men, $25 for couples, and only $1 for women. Visitors can pitch a tent for $10 per night or they can park their RV for $20 a night. RV rentals vary. Indian Hills accepts cash only from visitors.

Moran said families live in the RV park year round.

"We do have 200 some odd members, and some people live here 24-7," Moran said. "We do [allow] kids, but they have to be with a parent or a legal custodian."

According to the Web site, children are "natural nudists" and quickly take to nudity like "ducks take to water."

Moran plans to organize an annual spring break event in the future to attract more college students to the park, he said. Moran said Indian Hills will host the "Nude Olympics" in May, and University students are welcome to participate.

John Lebret, communications graduate student, said he usually works during spring break and has no travel plans. But upon hearing about Indian Hills for the first time, he said, "Well, now I've got something to do."

----- Contact Leah Square at lsquare@lsureveille.com