Tucked among towering redwoods along the Russian River, The Woods was more than a getaway — it was a ritual.
Operating during the peak decades of 1970s through the 1990s gay resort culture, The Woods became one of the Russian River’s iconic clothing-optional destinations. Before Palm Springs dominated the scene, before apps replaced bulletin boards, there was Guerneville — and there was The Woods.
Sun-warmed decks. Poolside afternoons. Mist rising off the river at dusk.
The Woods offered something rare: escape without disguise. A place where urban stress dissolved into redwood air and chosen family formed over cocktails and cannonballs. It was part of a broader Northern California tradition of queer sanctuaries — spaces built intentionally for rest, connection, and freedom.
