USA — Adults who enjoy attending landed swinger club events in Indiana and New Jersey have lost two of their options, thanks to two recent court decisions.A club in rural Indiana that bills itself as the states oldest is facing $300 per day fines after having been declared in violation of zoning ordinances by Shelby County officials who insist that the discreet country club “isn’t something that you would expect in rural Indiana.”
Topside II resides in an old farm purchased by Gary James, the club’s owner. James had run a similar operation in Indianapolis but relocated after encountering zoning problems there.
Shelby County Sheriff Tom Debaun says he’s not sure if anything happening at the club is illegal or not, stating that the club’s website insists it will not tolerate illegal activity and that only consenting adults are allowed entrance.
Since the club requests donations for participation, Debaun thinks it may qualify as an adult business, which is not allowed in the zoned agricultural and single-family residence area. Topside II was served a cease-and-desist order in September and police say they have not seen any recent activity.
Regardless, the county plan commission recently voted 7 – 0 to find the club in violation of zoning codes and make the $300 per day fines retroactive to September 7th. Simultaneously, the previous owners of the farm property are seeking termination of the sale agreement and a return of their land.
Meanwhile in New Jersey, the Beginnings swing club has agreed to close its door and be out of town by December 1st, after receiving dozens of citations from Rahway officials.
Calling itself “New Jersey’s Premier Club for Couples,” the private club has been in business since 1982, something mayor James Kennedy finds reprehensible, insisting that the club’s owners have “been a thorn in this city for many years; a well-known secret where sex acts were protected by laws intended to preserve the rights of Americans.”
Apparently swapping sex partners is not a right Kennedy considers protected or worth protecting, because, along with announcing that “At long last, the sex club is on its way out of Rahway” he lauded City Health Officer Rick Proctor and director of building, engineering, planning and economic development Lenore A Slothower for accompanying the city’s police into the club in March after obtaining a search warrant.
The club received 39 citations because of the raid, although club operators insist that its membership of more than 600 couples do not engage in behavior that is improper and have pointed out that it has operated for more than 20 years without incident.
According to Slothhower, adult businesses are not allowed in the city’s downtown area and can only operate in light-industrial areas with conditions.
Kennedy, a Democrat running for reelection, can add the courageous closing of this swing club to his list of career achievements, along with closing a juice bar, revoking liquor licenses for two taverns, and shutting down three massage parlors.
“I am dedicated to getting rid of prostitution, drug dealers, and sex clubs,” Kennedy announced. “Rahway will not be home to sexual exploitation and vice crimes.”
