Wisconsin Nude Beach Closing: Too Much Sex And Drugs, Authorities Say

Wisconsin residents ... cover up.

Authorities announced Tuesday that they will shut down a popular nude beach on weekdays after struggling for years to curtail sex and drugs on the sand and surroundings.

The public beach on the Wisconsin River near Mazomani, 25 miles north of Madison, is one of the nation's most visited nude beaches. Nudists from around the country flocked to the natural haven after prosecutors in the ultra-liberal county said that they wouldn't go after anyone for showing skin.

The problem is that visitors did not stop at taking off their clothes and went on to cross the line pretty fast. Police in the county have been struggling for years to curtail sex and drug use at the beach. In 2011, 26 people were arrested for illicit sex and another 16 for drug use in just nine days of surveillance.

As a result, the Department of Natural Resources has resolved to closing the sand, island and nearby forest on weekdays, effective immediately. All will open normal hours again on weekends -- from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Nate Kroeplin, supervisor at the DNR, said that most illegal actions happen during the week.

"Our ultimate goal is to have a safe place that anybody can use. With the current activity going on down there, it's just not the case."

But not everybody is happy with the decision. Bob Morton, executive director of nudist advocate group Naturist Action Committee, criticized the agency for not consulting beachgoers first.

"We're on their side when it comes to enforcing things that are lewd and lascivious," he said. "But there's something to be said about consulting the users of the place."