Reports end nudist gatherings at Delaware club

State Rep. Mike Ramone found himself in troubled waters recently when reports surfaced "exposing" information about a private group of adults meeting monthly at Ramone's Delaware Swim and Fitness Center.

The New Castle location, at 2150 New Castle Ave., has for the last 25 years rented its facility to a group that held monthly "Delaware Spa Parties."

A since-deleted description of the "nudist/naturist" group said "DSP was established to promote social functions for members and their guests, in a safe, comfortable environment where everyone can participate and enjoy these activities."

Ramone, who did not attend the events, said he did not cancel the parties after the reports surfaced.

A message on the "spa" group's website reads: "Due to circumstances beyond the control of Delaware Spa Parties, all future events have been indefintiely (sic) suspended!"

"My general reaction has been, honestly, it’s amazing how many people have come to me and stated why this is anyone’s business," Ramone said.

"I don’t mind living with the decisions I make. If I make mistakes, I'll correct them. I'm not perfect. What I do mind is people that manipulate the facts.

"The facts are being twisted and manipulated to make it look like a story for political motivations."

The facts being manipulated by a Delaware blogger, Ramone said, include reports from the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Division of Public Health.

During an investigation of a complaint on Nov. 30, Division of Public Health staff closed all three pools at the facility. The club has a swim pool, spa pool and therapy pool. Public Health would not confirm nor deny whether the complaint had to do with the spa parties.

The swimming pool was closed due to insufficient chlorine levels. The pool was closed until chlorine reached 1 ppm. It opened the same day.

The spa pool was closed due to insufficient pH levels, an inoperable flow meter, and lack of a spa pool thermometer. The spa pool was re-inspected on Dec. 1, the following day, and was found to be in compliance for re-opening.

The therapy pool was closed due to an inoperable flow meter and was cleared to open on Dec. 1. However, the club kept the pool closed until additional repairs – including painting – could be completed. It opened on Dec. 7.

None of these violations, Ramone said, had anything to do with the once-a-month meeting of a nudist group.

Some of the issues, he said, were as small as sand getting into a flow meter.

"I’m not hiding anything," Ramone said. "There’s nothing to hide."

The group was open to couples and singles.

What a private, law-abiding group of adults do in their free time at a private facility after-hours is no one's business but the parties involved, Ramone and others have said.

"This particular story is sad," Ramone said. "Now a bunch of people have been outed and now aren't comfortable with their privacy or safety.

"I felt that I had to set the record straight that giving lollipops to children and renting a pool to a nudist community isn't fair to imply that I attend or I'm a rotten person. It’s sad that people choose to do this.

"My wife and I are fairly modest. We don't go to nude beaches. That doesn’t mean other people are wrong for doing that.”

Contact reporter Jeff Neiburg at (302) 983-6772, jneiburg@delawareonline.com or on Twitter @Jeff_Neiburg.