Sandstone Retreat
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Resort, intentional community |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Founder | John Williamson, Barbara Williamson |
| Defunct | 1976 |
| Headquarters | Topanga Canyon , United States |
Area served | California |
Key people | John Williamson, Barbara Williamson |
| Products | Clothing-optional resort services, spa services |
Sandstone Retreat, formally known as the Sandstone Foundation for Community Systems Research, was a clothing-optional resort promoting open sexuality and partner swapping, situated on a 15-acre property in the Santa Monica Mountains with views of Malibu and the Pacific Ocean.
The retreat was established by John (1932–2013) and Barbara Williamson. John, an engineer and former Lockheed project manager who worked on missile support systems such as Polaris, sold his electronics firm to acquire the Topanga Canyon land in 1968. The couple founded the Sandstone Foundation in 1969. Barbara, previously an insurance sales agent, married John in 1966. Together, they advocated for partner exchange and critiqued monogamy as restrictive to individual satisfaction.
Facilities at the retreat included spa services for members aged 18 and older, featuring expansive shared sleeping quarters and communal bathrooms. Potential members were required to participate in interviews to determine their compatibility with the community.
Run by a resident group that could number up to 20 individuals, Sandstone attracted prominent figures including Daniel Ellsberg, Anthony Russo, Betty Dodson, Max Lerner, Dr. Alex Comfort, alongside celebrities from Hollywood, educators, and legal professionals. The Williamsons sold the property in 1973; the venue reportedly never achieved profitability and ceased operations in 1976.
Sandstone appeared in the 1975 documentary titled Sandstone, was referenced in Dr. Alex Comfort's 1973 work More Joy of Sex, and was examined in Gay Talese's 1980 publication Thy Neighbor's Wife, who resided there during his investigative period.
The structures of Sandstone Retreat were destroyed during the Palisades Fire in January 2025.
External links
- Short description with empty Wikidata description
- 1969 establishments in California
- 1970s in California
- American companies established in 1969
- Clothing-optional events
- Companies based in Los Angeles County, California
- Intentional communities in California
- Defunct resorts in California
- Santa Monica Mountains
- Topanga, California