http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens.html When Sun Valley Gardens closed for financial reasons in 1982, it was not without having had a significant impact on Ontario’s naturist scene. Almost every existing club in Southern Ontario (and a few that have since closed) in some way owe their existence to former members of SVG. Karl Ruehle started SVG in 1954. Through a great deal of energy and vision, he quickly built up the club’s membership. He was also known for his promotional ability. His yearly open house generated a great deal of press coverage. Unfortunately, he lacked the customer service skills to keep members. According to the book Au Naturel: The History of Nudism in Canada, Ruehle was regarded as “autocratic and tight-fisted. Many saw him as a ‘boot stomping Prussian.’” Federation of Canadian Naturist staff repeatedly tried to contact Mr. Ruehle by phone, mail and in person to get his side of the story. Unfortunately, there was no response. The pictures below were taken on two personal attempts to contact him. (May 10, 2006 and June 15, 2006) We subsequently learned that Karl Ruehle passed away in August 2006 after a lengthy stay in the hospital . He had had a stroke in the early part of the year which he did not recover from. This is probably the reason that the FCN never received any response. Walking the property was eery. It seemed like naturists just walked away and abandoned the place as it was. It was like walking through some post-apocalyptic science-fiction movie . To read more about Sun Valley Gardens, go to the bottom of this page. http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens.html#0 aa8c906b-c1cd-42a4-afe7-fc00d6a9f603 http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0115/thumb.jpg http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0115/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">The intercom at the entrance</p></div></div> http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens.html#1 cef2da98-f703-4e59-9db6-5d2670f07906 http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0007/thumb.jpg http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0007/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Karl Ruehle&#x2019;s mailbox. He was apparently still living there.</p></div></div> http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens.html#2 34015bb1-0e2b-43ea-a6dd-66c5e6a7440b http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0008/thumb.jpg http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0008/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">The entrance driveway.</p></div></div> http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens.html#3 4d307769-5c6d-4345-bfc3-7972e8dfb5be http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0101/thumb.jpg http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0101/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">A large abandoned building.</p></div></div> http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens.html#4 1d629a26-d4db-4244-bcaf-1a78b0716c07 http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0102/thumb.jpg http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0102/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">The main building still looked lived in.</p></div></div> http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens.html#5 4d6ad434-9bee-4ffb-992f-b506b72676cc http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0105/thumb.jpg http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0105/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">On the pool side of the main building. The sign still said &#x201C;showers&#x201D;</p></div></div> http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens.html#6 5062449b-9149-4129-8614-cc5c65411ec8 http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0106/thumb.jpg http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0106/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Entrance to the pool area.</p></div></div> http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens.html#7 469c20c5-74e9-4026-89df-ec73c1cc5c6f http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_1228/thumb.jpg http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_1228/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">A covered terrace by the pool</p></div></div> http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens.html#8 3dbbd0b8-3e59-4e7e-b417-51311f13e247 http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0107/thumb.jpg http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0107/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">A former restaurant perhaps?</p></div></div> http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens.html#9 f7f86fd1-d61a-48c0-bc89-501d77364ffe http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0108/thumb.jpg http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0108/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">The main building and terrace</p></div></div> http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens.html#10 94f13440-5af5-468c-9e96-f0783f4f0f50 http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0109/thumb.jpg http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0109/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Main building from the far side of the pool.</p></div></div> http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens.html#11 953ac605-37c5-40bb-a405-254fda472350 http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0110/thumb.jpg http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0110/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">The slide by the pool still seems to be waiting.</p></div></div> http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens.html#12 5b04c442-212d-4512-90b2-e155fe81ca96 http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0003/thumb.jpg http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0003/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Pool picture taken in May.</p></div></div> http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens.html#13 28e72065-0314-4277-9ce2-ee34eaf19163 http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0004/thumb.jpg http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0004/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">The pool clearly hasn&#x2019;t been used in years.</p></div></div> http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens.html#14 a80220be-f09e-46fb-8a1b-47f2f5e62eb8 http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0111/thumb.jpg http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0111/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Throughout the property, there are abandoned cabins.</p></div></div> http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens.html#15 859df023-7e37-40ca-966c-1331f15b17bf http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0112/thumb.jpg http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0112/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">The volleyball court still has its posts but is a bit overgrown.</p></div></div> http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens.html#16 7843f48b-11fb-4af9-8522-9759e9360d51 http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0113/thumb.jpg http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0113/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Some cabins are still looking decent from the outside</p></div></div> http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens.html#17 4c02c898-93ad-4e3e-b211-40ecbd4a357d http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0005/thumb.jpg http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0005/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">The kids pool is eerily quiet.</p></div></div> http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens.html#18 1773d3d2-d764-44e3-8653-13c1d5b91ba6 http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0006/thumb.jpg http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0006/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Clearly, members put a lot of energy into some of their cabins.</p></div></div> http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens.html#19 c298c651-3d77-4c9a-b707-1887bffc0d7c http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0001/thumb.jpg http://www.BareOaks.ca/Bare-Oaks/Sun_Valley_Gardens_files/Media/PDR_0001/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">The kids area looks like children might have been there just a few years ago.</p></div></div>