HAMILTON TWP.--Officials in Hamilton Township are hoping to cash in on a former nudist colony. Those who live in what was "Sunshine Park" say rather than develop the land, they'd like to keep it au naturale.

"You always heard stories about Sunshine Park." And while the former nudist colony went belly-up decades ago, some of the many buildings are still left standing in the wooded area along the Great Egg Harbor River. "There was quite a few more cabins, it was clean, it was nice," said Hamilton Township Mayor, Nelson Gaskill, "there became issues with the state and the county health department in the end as it started to deteriorate. In the times it did run, it was very busy all the time."

Opening in 1938, Sunshine Park was considered by many to be the first of its kind, where over the years thousands came to be one with nature, until delinquent taxes forced the township to foreclose on the property. Now, decades later, officials are putting it up on the auction block. "Because of the economic times that we're in, revenues are down, expenses are still there," explained Ed Sasdelli, Administrator for the Township, "they authorized me to do everything, every alternative source of revenue that we find, selling off municipal assets that we no longer need is an option."

"I would just like to see it cleaned up," said Gaskill, "nice homes and have people live here in a very nice community." The same reasons nudists flocked to the secluded, river-lined area area decades ago, are why residents living here now say they enjoy it so much, and don't want to see it change.

"Love it here like this, it's quiet. We don't need anymore...we want it to stay like this," said local resident, Gerry Delany, "since the township's hurting for money, they can find other ways to do it."

But, township officials feel optimistic about this plan, and hope to make millions on the land, which they say could house about 20 homes, rather than let the buildings there now deteriorate any further. "We want to turn a liability into an asset," said Sasdelli.

Township officials say the property will likely be auctioned off within the next 60 to 90 days. Anyone interested should contact Hamilton Township Municipal Hall.