Girls Gone Wild coming to Antioch this weekend

When Girls Gone Wild, the soft porn video group that urges women to bare it all, arrives at Blarney Island on Saturday as part of its "Hottest Bars in America" tour, it won't draw the most attention from local police.

That distinction goes to the annual Petite Lake Sandbar party the same afternoon on the Chain O' Lakes.

Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran said deputies will be ready to stop any illegal activity - such as indecent exposure - at Blarney's, but will not increase patrols there. However, they will beef up security on the Chain for the sandbar party.

"We are not going to go out to Blarney's to be the killjoys of the party, and we will not have extra police swarming the island or anything," Curran said. "Our biggest concern is that party in the middle of the lake because that has been known to get out of control,"

Still, a large crowd is expected at Blarney's, where owner John Haley said the Girls Gone Wild film crew will shoot segments for the "Hottest Bars in America" feature.

According to the GGW website, film crews are crisscrossing the nation to shoot video of what takes place in the wildest bars in the United States.

Officials from Girls Gone Wild did not return requests to comment.

Haley said producers of the video contacted him about a month ago and expressed interest in shooting footage at Blarney's, which bills itself as the "Key West of the Midwest."

"I think it'll be great exposure for Blarney's, as well as Lake County and the Chain O' Lakes," he said. "We are located in the middle of the lake, and have a reputation of being a place to have a good time. I think that's why they contacted us."

Haley understands that, while Girls Gone Wild brings a reputation for enticing women to act provocatively, he stressed no illegal activity or nudity will be permitted on the island.

"There won't be any problems like that here," he said. "If something happens, it will take place away from the island. The camera crew coming in has already been told that."

Curran said he is more concerned about the Petite Lake Sandbar Party, considered the largest annual boat "tie-up" party on the Chain. Hundreds of boats tie together to anchor, then partygoers wander to a shallow, sandy area to listen to music and mingle. The Girls Gone Wild film crew is also expected to attend.

Police are concerned because of the traditionally large crowd size, excessive alcohol, public nudity and lack of security control.

While sheriff officials will not shut down the party, Curran said, there will be extra patrols and security on the Chain to ensure the partying does not get out of hand and things remain safe.

Officials from the Fox Waterway Agency, the Illinois Conservation Police, the United States Coast Guard and the Lake County Emergency Management Agency will be on hand to assist whenever needed,

"Patrolmen will be on boats to assist deputies on the waterway that day," he said. "We expect everyone to behave themselves accordingly."

Party organizers from funonthefox.com were unavailable for comment regarding the event.

Lake County Board Chairman Suzi Schmidt said, while there may be some morality issues regarding the presence of Girls Gone Wild, as long as everyone obeys the law, there should be very few problems.

"I guess people who are against this sort of thing shouldn't go out there this weekend," she said. "And, as long as they aren't hurting anyone else and are not breaking the law, there shouldn't be a problem."