Tennis, nudist resorts reviving tourism

Would-be visitors learned of the Caliente Nudist Resort when Paris Hilton visited it on The Simple Life II.

By JAMES THORNER
Published February 13, 2005

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Three years after the events of Sept. 11 sent tourism into a tailspin, Pasco County is drawing hordes of visitors again.

Thank you, Saddlebrook. Thank you, nudist resorts.

Saddlebrook, the golf and tennis resort off State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, had a couple of money losing quarters last year, but business was way up compared with the doldrums of 2001.

Nudism, the mainstay of Land O'Lakes' tourist economy, thrived in the two biggest resorts on U.S. 41.

Caliente Nudist Resort was already booming when it appeared in June on The Simple Life II , the reality TV series featuring celebutantes Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie on a cross country road trip.

On the talk show circuit to promote the episode, Hilton and Richie bad-mouthed the physical appearance of the middle-aged nudists they saw at Caliente.

But the final product that appeared on the TV screen accentuated the positive while blurring with pixelation all the naughty bits. Caliente basked in the free publicity.

Caliente's main rival, Paradise Lakes, was forced to lower yearly membership fees to stop the flow of patrons to its newer and bigger competitor.

Though he turned down The Simple Life II as exploitative, Paradise owner Joe Lettelleir had other tricks up his sleeve to lure customers.

He's set on opening a chain of complementary nudist clubs, one in Sin City itself, Las Vegas. A membership in Paradise Lakes buys you entrance into Lettelleir's other resorts.

Pasco's tourist scene could heat up this year. Saddlebrook owner Tom Dempsey plans to build a tournament-caliber golf course southeast of Interstate 75 and State Road 52.

If he fulfills his dream, the course would attract professional golfers, just as Saddlebrook proper attracts professional tennis players.