I have been going to the Fort since I moved to South St. Petersburg back in the early 80's when I was a young teen.  Even then I wore the smallest of suits.  The Fort has changed over the years and along with this website it has taken what was once a quiet get away for the locals and brought it to the world's attention.  It is amazing how the internet has changed things.  This world of ours has gotten so small.  The Fort use to be a long peaceful stretch of beach that  you could walk and rarely see a sole.  Thank goodness us locals put a stop to the development that was recently proposed and thank goodness shot down.  To tell you all the truth the Fort is a terrible place to visit, the locals are rude, the dead fish and bugs are to much to stand and the red ants, don't get me started with the red ants.  If I was spending my money on a trip to enjoy the sun, I would have to go to South Beach and not Fort Desoto.  Just us poor locals should have to deal with dead fish, bugs and ants along with rude drunk  red necks.  See ya at South Beach

G

Is this a nice place to go if you have a boat? Are thongs allowed? I have heard that everyone leaves you alone.  Was wondering if anyone had any dealings with the rangers.  Curious if they are like the ones at the Fort. 

Moderator note:  Egmont Key is located at the mouth of Tampa Bay, southwest of Fort DeSoto Beach. Access by private boat only.

Hopefully we can get out there in 2 weeks.  Maybe the spring break foot traffic will have slowed down and some more of the regulars will be coming back out. We miss seeing all our friends out there.

Should have the boat ready by the middle of April.  Water should be warming up in May. So we should be ready. Have to learn to listen better to the weather. Now we just wait to here sunny and warm. Now I will have to listen to the winds and wave reports.

grnngold93 wrote

May not be a bad idea to have comments that reach one year old to be dropped from the board.

I hope not.  Some posts have value after a year.  Some don't have value after a week.

GRNNGOLD - Actually, if you read my post, I'm trying to avoid something in particular.  Please explain why you would suggest I'm looking for something in particular.   No need to get defensive, unless of course you feel targeted by my concern.

I'll wait for your reply.

GRNNGOLD - Yes, you took it the wrong way and apology accepted.  Didn't I say in my original post I'm not concerned with who's thonging around me? 

I'm not going to belabor this point any longer so I'll end with these comments.  

The guy suggested Ft. DeSoto was predominately gay with weird things going on in the dunes.   I simply asked for clarification because I don't care for that type of environment.  It's beyond me how you can construe from my questions that I may want to stare at boobs, hit on women, or just be a pervert in general.  And I do find it ironic that you're the one that doesn't want the rangers checking on you every 30 minutes...why?  I kind of like having them around...that way the police can do the 'policing.' I don't know what your motive is here other than you just don't like visitors invading your little 'slice of paradise.' 

I'm not offensive to anyone at the beach or anywhere else and I don't like anyone offending me.  Especially people that don't even know me taking shots at my character on an Internet board.   I don't need beach etiquette explained to me and I also know who the 'police' are down there...and it's not you.    If I'm not mistaken, Ft. DeSoto is a public park operated by Pinellas County.  Everyone is welcome until they screw up.  People know that.  Visitors don't need you to presume for some reason they might be a pervert.  If they are you'll know it when they get there...until then try to make them feel welcome.   

I'll be there in April.   I hope to see everyone and say 'Hi'...we're a friendly group of people here in Texas and we make our visitors feel welcome.  In fact, I've met a few from this board on the Texas beaches.  We get a lot of visitors from all over, including Florida. 

Until then, Happy Thonging everyone!

I'll chime in on this also.....as a guy from South Texas that visits Florida regularly, I love Ft. DeSoto Beach. I used to love the North end before it eroded so much and now I enjoy what locals call "west beach". I park on the grassy area and head toward the beach! I have met some great people out there. It's a beautiful sunning, shelling and swimming area. To me the Fort feels like you are out on an island somewhere and not just minutes away from Tampa/St. Pete. It's a great getaway. I have found that most liberal beaches have a mixed groud. Haulover Beach (North Miami Beach) is a large stretch of beach with a huge str8 section and a huge gay section. Everybody picks the spot they want. The North end of Delray is the same....couples, singles and some gay guys. 

For the record, I have never, ever seen overt sexual activity at the Fort but I imagine if someone str8 or gay wants to hook up behind the dunes where no one can see, it's a free country!! I have lived a life of non-judgement and I go to the beach to enjoy myself and I dont mind checking out nice looking people....so sue me.......and I dont walk around thinking the beach should be all mine and everyone else should stay home. Hell, there are so many remote beaches around Tampa/St. Pete, it would be easy to find a seculded spot with not a soul around you. And yes, of course I draw lines at perverted behavior or inappropriate conduct.       

We were out today.  I believe our oasis may be gone. Tide was up.  Toward the north end the water was up at the dune line. That means no where to lay during high tide down that way.  Foot traffic both from the north beach area and down from the fort area was high. 

The rangers were dowm 3 times in a little more than 4 hours. Twice they drove all the way down, water was at the bottom of the door as they drove back when they turned around. The third time they parked the truck and walked down and checked out the dune area.  Where they have cleared out a number of trees and shrubs has curiousity up from those at the official north beach area. 

We noticed new official "Anti-nudity" signs at 2 locations along the beach area. 

Guess this beach will go away like Leto, Honeymoon, and Caladesi.  Funny how most hetero couples just want somewhere to enjoy the sun in minimal thongs or maybe topfree.  Then we have that group of true exhibitionist and  freaks that have no regard for families or other people and ruin it for the rest of us.  If people would just realize their perverted actions at  thong or semi-nude friendly beaches jeapordizes the enjoyment by everyone. 

I have decided that we will continue to go, but every time we see something freaky we are going to call the rangers office directly, and point out the person to them when they show up. I guess it will be up to the regulars to gain the respect of the rangers so we may be able to save this area.

I am not saying call because a woman is topless or a man may be sitting with his thong pulled to the side. I am saying those that want to parade themselves up and down the beach with it hanging out as they pass families or other peope. I am saying those that think they can have sex in the open out there. 

The time has come for all the regulars to work hard to protect what we have for everyone to enjoy not to have it lost becasue of a perverted few. Regulars please help with this endeavor. Visitors can help too by respecting the local area of others.

Maybe you need to get together and work with the rangers.  They did this at Haulover.  The "Beach Ambasidors"  tell people what is out of line and the friendly life guards and local police back them up.

Check out >> http://www.sffb.com/

The comment was made "But if you report the perverts to the rangers, won't the rangers crack down on the non-pervert sunbathers?" 

I don't think this is true.  People see the world in terms of good and evil.  I often help the local police and life guards when out on my beach.   It could be a drunk in the surf acting like a beached whale,  some one iligaly digging for turtle eggs or just the dropped police notebook.  I try to make sure that they know I am on their side, the GOOD side.

If you are acting reponsably I won't tip them off that you have a cold carona in the cooler but, if you are a bunch drunks with a stack of glass beer bottles that you have struen around then I will tip them off to take a look.  I have never had a problem from a life guard or police officer.  They may not like what I wear but it's legal.  AND they apriciate the general public being on the lookout for problems. 

If you just hide your head in shame when the rangers come to find the pervs then you are painting your self with the same brush.  The key is to clearly show them the diffrence between you and the pervs.  That's how they did it at Haulover.  The South Florida Fee Beaches group got orgnized and did several things.

• Defined the problem.  
• Made a clear distinction between nudists and the pervs.  (You may want to make it between the thonged and the too-far-out)
• Made it clear to the athorities that they were not the problem, and would help to control the problem.
• Got orgnized and had fully clothed sit down meetings with the park rangers to work out the solutions.
• Setup a code of conduct
• Had beach ambasidors who advised beach goers of the code of conduct.
• Worked out a system so that the beach ambasidors could esclate any problems to the rangers and police as needed.
• Used signs as a non-confrontational way to let people know what was and was not allowed.

If you want to keep your beach you have to run the pervs off.  Otherwise it will end up like some other state parks where the pervs ruined it for everybody.

I am glad to see that other people are concerned with these perverts and the issues they raise.  Those of us that are lucky enough to be able to use the Fort regularly and those guest that come to enjoy it with us I hope we can draw some lines and keeep the beach the way it has been for a really long time.  We all need to now make sure we explain to people these strange actions will not be accepted. I am very lucky in this regard as I am a rather big man. Not obese but stand 6'4". This helps. 

With the increased ranger visibilty and the new signs, I can tell you if we do not make a stand we will end up with no beach to enjoy.

Toward the later part of the summer last year that the rangers were not saying much to the topless women as long as they respected the rangers and try to cover up when they saw them coming down the beach. Of course when word got out that they were not really trying to bust anyone the perverts came out of the wood work. 

We can tell who they are in a short period of time when they show up. I think I may let them know we have rules, cell phones, and the rangers phone number.  If any of us see inappropriate behavior we need to make sure we try and stop it immediately. It will not take long before they realize this is not the spot for them. There is plenty of other beach at the Fort for them.  

I know there are a lot of people that read this message board that go out to the Fort and lay along this area of the beach. You all know what area.  I just want to challenge everyone that goes out there either a regular or a visitor to respect everyone and make sure the perverts know we are watching and will not tolerate them destroying our beach.  If we all do it they will go away. 

We also need to respect those that manage to walk all the way down especially those with children. It is not hard to throw your shorts or shirt over your butt when children walk by.  We bring our son out but you can tell we do not mind as we both are in thongs. It's different when you can tell a family is thong friendly. Then its okay. We all need to work together and keep our beach.

CYBERLUC -  That's the message I am trying to get out to everyone. Use to be on north Leto Beach outside of the Sarasota area you could go nude and no one cared. The perverts showed up and gone went the beach even for thongs. Honeymoon Island and Caladesi use to be able to go nude or thong with no problem boom they showed up there and that area got shut down. Now they have decided to ruin it at Fort Desoto. 

I really am thinking of getting a nice little sling shot. Use some bb's and I can get them to leave. It is sad when you have couples that like to thong and lay out topless and the perverts have to show up. Like my wife says if she wants to see nude men parading she will go to a male review. 

I have a hard time understanding the laws in Florida anyway. How can some beaches be topfree like all of Dade County, some areas be nude like Haulover and Playalinda and the rest of the state have a conservative view point. You would think if one county allows it on the beaches which are really soviern lands why does not every beach county have to designate a nice area for their residents and visitors.

I personally would like to see Desoto designate an area of beach, put up signs, keep a lifeguard there, and maybe even charge an additional fee to lay in that area. I bet the revenue would cover the lifeguard each and every day. It would stop the freaks and keep the area family friendly.

The problem comes from the few that would oppose such a beach area. I would almost bet that if the people of Florida could vote on whether to allow topfree and thong freedom you would see the majority would say who cares.  I think I may go out and talk to the head ranger one day. Just to see how we could help police the area and keep it family friendly. The new signs really scare me regarding their intentions. Is it for informational purposes ar are they really getting ready to crack down on everyone out there?

Regarding the differences in opinion on thongs on the East and West Coasts of Florida---the attitude to alot of things is different.  The East coast is mostly populated by Northeasterners and the West coast by Midwesterners.  The West Coast is more laid back, but more conservative too.

Regarding getting the rangers involved:  I'll tell you one thing-  when you get many law enforcement authorities involved in something they overexert their official authority and it won't turn out like most thongers will want.  

Thongs actually make many rangers mad, because they think they should be outlawed, but you're legal wearing them---they see it as cheating--you're just out of reach of their "authority".  I'm sure at Fort Desoto they'd much rather be doing something else than watching for nude guys or people having sex, so while they're on that task they're not likely to be in a good mood.

I think you need to get a small working group orgnized.  Than work on setting up a fully clothed discussion with the park manager, in his office. A business meeting. Start with a letter setting up the meeting. Have and agenda. Pick morning hours, during the week, when the park is slow.  Find out what time they have, and book an hour, not ten minutes.

BUT FIRST interview the Friends of the park http://friends.fortdesoto.com/ .  Start by going to their meetings. They have a working relationship with the park management. You need them as friends. Find out what their issues are. Do they think thongs are a problem, or topless, or pervs, or garbage, or bird nesting, or jet ski's. What are the issues of the Friends group. Get the back issues of the Friends news letter and find out what issues they are working on. Make a list of the Friends of the Park's issues, and see what you have in common.

Go to see the park manager and head ranger. Start with an exploratory meeting, just to understand their concerns and issues. Don't discuss any problems you may personally have had with Rangers. Probe to see what other objections you may have to overcome. Just LISTEN to their issues and concerns.

Don't show too many of your cards. Just say you hope to find a plan that address their concerns and issues.

Listen to the park manager and get their input on the issues and problems they face. Not just about the thong - nude - perv issues but on all issues. See what common ground you have. What are their problems? Not just with regard to thongs and nudists, but staffing, hours, red-necks, alcohol, parking, infrastructure?

Followup with a letter listing the parks issues with thongs and nudists as you understand them. Repeat back to them what their issues are, and followup with a phone call to make sure they have read the letter, and that you fully understand their issues. More important, that they get it, that YOU understand their issues.

ONLY THEN can you find a plan that you can live with, and that solves the rangers problems, and that gets the support of the "Friends of the Park". You are looking for a three way fix. If your proposal works for all of you, then it will have three strong blocks working for it, your thong group, the powerful Friends of the Park' and the park manager.

Then get back to your thong wearers planning group, and together and come up with a plan. Know what your group wants before you start negotiatons. Suggestion for what you want:

• A thong and topless zone.
• Signs for thong/topless may be encountered beyond this point - but - no full nudity or sexual activity allowed - strictly enforced - with the phone number of the ranger station.

Run it by the friends of the park.  Like the Senate, you want their approval.  Then go back to the park management.

Your proposal should not ARGUE with any issues the management may have rased. For example if they think that thonging leads to nude, leads to xxxx. Don't argue against this. It can't be proved ether way. Just work on the common ground. Say that the thong community wants to help deal with the pervs. They understand the real problem. You should set your self out as people on their side, not as lookouts for the pervs.

Its not a question of US against the MAN. It's about finding common ground with people who have power (park manager), and access to power (Friends of the park), and your selves. Remember the target is the pervs. Make sure you are on the solution side and not the problem side of the equation.

You don't want much, just a couple of signs stating what is, and more importantly what is NOT ok. You want a way to quickly shutdown the wankers.

You may want to setup a system of volunteer Beach Ambassadors like Haulover has. Read about them on this link >> Beach Ambassodors You can tell them by their distinctive hats.

I think it's best not to start reporting until you have the system in place. You need to have a co-operative system in place, and the rangers need to expect a volume of reports from you before it happens. You don't want the number of reports to unexpectedly go off the chart. That would lead to swift action taken, probably while you are still in early talks and sorting out who is who. So to start with, I would confront the pervs and tell them to sod off. Just until such time as you have worked out a reporting system with the park manager and he/she expects the calls.

A must say, the paint ball idea is interesting. I am not sure they would report that their privates were covered in paint because they were waving it at some one. How would that report to the ranger go...

Start by having a meeting, with cloths on, at night, with other thongers from the beach. Pick a date, place and get it going. Make flyers if you have to and give them out.  Just because some people look  hot on the beach does not mean that they will present them selves well, and articulate well, when in cloths.   Therefore you don't want your busines meeting on the beach, you want it in cloths at a table. You are going to have to select whom amoungst you will be going to work with the Friends group and the park manager.   Who will present on their turf,  in their terms, in cloths, your suggestions.

Do rember to find and meet with the Friends of the park group.

Work with the power, not against it. 

I wear many hats, (board moderator, human, thonger, resident association president, stand in dad, lover, network guru, etc.)

In one of my roles, I am on the board of the local running club. I measure and certify courses for running races.  On race day I do the course management.  I often have to work with city, park, police and rangers. Closing a few miles of central down town in a major city, or shutting down a few highways, or just taking over all the roads in a park.

JM, your attitudes and advice are so refreshing, especially the last part where you said, even if you don't organize, abide by these sensible rules of behavior anyway.  It reminds me of the approach I'm taking to participation in the Bay to Breakers 12k road race in San Francisco.  The Bare-2-Breakers group of nudist participants have a very informative website detailing all aspects of doing the race while naked, and invite folks to join them, if they're willing to abide by a few simple "rules", such as be naked only on the race course, not before, after, or off the course during.  Their's is a demonstration in support of their First Amendment rights of free expression, and has a well established precedent of legal protection.  I'll probably not join their group, since I plan to run a straight race after taking my place in the lineup behind the starting line with all the other serious racers.  By contrast, they, as a group, strip a few blocks along the way and jump in after the lead runners have passed.  Okay for their purposes, but not for mine.  Still, I plan to follow their "rules", and will strip in the lineup no further than my g-string, ripping it off (if I can  summon the courage!) only after crossing the starting line.  And I'll pull my shorts back on at the finish line, not wander around the area afterwards unclothed.  This way, I'll get my thrills, and hopefully provide the spectators a few, too, while still abiding by established customs of conduct for the event. 

JM, your attitudes are refreshing, too, because they are of a man who is open and unapologetic about his swimwear/running gear choice, and in behaving decently and responsibly has no need to slink around and try to remain anonymous.  You are a beacon to us all!       

Beautiful weather in Florida this week, low humidity, sunny.

A bit unnerving to see the (Pinellas county?) black helicopter flying low over Desoto beach, cameraman sitting on the side door, taping beachgoers, looking for ordinance violators.  DeSoto regulars, does this happen often?  

RE: Black helicopter flying low, cameraman taping beach goers, looking for ordinance violators.

This is an unwelcome development. Sounds like some one is trying to develop a case for something. Did you positively identify it as a government owned helicopter? You don't burn helicopter hours for fun.

If this had been a local police operation then it would have been coordinated with officers on the ground. Since you did not see any ground component to the action I think something else is going on.

There is only two reasons for filming, one to support a subsequent legal action against individual perpetrators, and the other is to build a general case against a group of people, so you can justify doing something. I would guess someone, or some agency, is attempting to build enough footage of what ever they don't like, so they can show it to a board or commission to get them to enact laws or rules.

• It's your government, find out what they were doing.
• It's your beach, confront any person who is going to far. Explain to them the new video surveillance.
• Open a dialog with the Park Rangers. (Think I have said that once or twice before)

Black Helicopter -

Working in the tourism industry this could have also been a crew gathering beach footage for promotion video.  I agree with other comments... had they been looking for violators, there would have been a coordinated ground effort as well.

Let's just hope this isn't a taste of worse things down the road.  I always try to get to the beach at the Fort.  It's quiet, relaxing and a great place to spend a few hours or the day recharging one's batteries after a stressful time in the office.

It was a quite small helicopter, focusing its attention around the past trouble spots...I could not see any markings, as I was further South and noticed it approached fast, had the cameraman sitting out the small side door, was closest to ground when down by the inlet, then rose rather quickly over towards the large north parking area, hovered higher for awhile, then left....did not return low a second time.

Picked the busiest time of day as well, around 3 pm or so.

The first thing I thought about was flyby for surprise documentation...but hopefully not a repeat performance anytime soon.

Helicopter, FT. DeSoto and Thonging

I truly miss BedRox was the most open all welcome friendly place and tons O fun no matter what your required taste were.

On the Helicopter. I work in the film industry and Ft. DeSoto is a hot place for shooting commercials. I know two features that used what they referred to as No Name Island.

If it was an official helicopter they would use an on board camera and fleer system not someone hanging at the door using a Manual Tyler Mount. When filming helicopter shots they must make long wide sweeping turns to get the correct height, speed and composition before the get to what they really need to shoot. The pilots usually local like to give the out of towners eye full of eye candy too from time to time. Lot of Car Spots there and I even worked on a Mercy Me Music Video there once. Was dying to leave at wrap and get semi naked on the beach of all our choices. Wrap came at dark damn it.

JM you told me once wwhere everone was talking about before the last parking lot where it was more shall I use the word private. Further away from Gators and Security.

Is it as good right not during slow season and can you tell me where it is. Coming from Orlando want to know just where to go. That being said place to find directions to good East Coast Beeaches for the same as I live on the east side of Bore-lando

Thanks

You are a wise and smart person JM. Great mission statememt and goals set by you. Nice work.