A series of alternative communities were established in the Santa Cruz Mountains above Palo Alto (CA) in the 1960s. The best known was 'The Land'. This was 750 acres established in 1970 and closed in 1977. The Land hosted a Rainbow Gathering in 1977 and a 'healing gathering' about the same time. Struggle Mountain is the only community still in existence. Pacific High School (PHS) was an alternative private high school student run and communal in nature, with a roll of 60 pupils. PHS is best known for the construction of a series of dome buildings (17) constructed by a crew only aged 15 - 17 years in 1969 -1970 and very much influenced by the idealism and enthusiasm of the counter-culture and and for the publishing of two books on this subject. PHS was set up in 1961 and closed in 1978. PHS had a lake and swimming there was naked, of course. A project was to build a sub-marine and the photo shows this being launched. According to a description PHS was a great place to build relationships, smoke a joint and get an all over tan. The Santa Cruz communities were a magnet for disillusioned youth and a hot-bed for alternative ideas. Those living on 'The Land' actively espoused freedom, dope, nudity, and a fairly relaxed lifestyle, not necessarily in that order. The first residents of the community occupied what is known as the 'frontlands': later arrivals set themselves up in the 'backlands'. Acknowledgement. The Land website.
Sadly the rise of the right since then I think means there is much less chance of such a community being established again.
