West Turtle Lake Club

From Spearfish Lake Tales Wiki

West Turtle Lake Club is a frequently mentioned nudist camp, although rarely a location in a book. "Even though the West Turtle Lake Club had been out north of Spearfish Lake since shortly after World War II, probably not one Spearfish Lake resident in a hundred had ever been out there."^BAR87 It has a beautiful wide beach and several cozy summer cottages on the lake, but it is best known for Commons, the huge Ursula Mandenberg designed log dining hall, built in the fifties that had won architectural awards. The Commons was strictly vegetarian with the sole exception at the end of October.

Gil and Carrie Evachevski moved their Halloween party out to the Commons at the Club sometime around 1980. Being the off-season and with little nudity expected in October, plus some anonymity from costumes, the popular party became the chance many residents used to visit the club. The 1987 party appears in Busted Axle Road.

In May 2, 1987, Jackie Gravengood had to land her glider there due to running out of altitude.^TO

Known members include Kirsten Langenderfer, Frank Matson and the Evachevski family.