The community named Return to the Land has sparked both attention and legal scrutiny. Located in Arkansas, this 160-acre development restricts membership to white, heterosexual individuals, a policy now challenged in court for violating fair housing and civil rights laws.
Michelle Walker, a real estate broker from St. Louis, encountered the project through a news segment. Drawn by the low land price of about $1,000 per acre in the Ozark Mountains, she looked into it further. Familiar with the area from vacations, she quickly noticed the price was below market value. However, the community’s admission requirements prevented her from joining, as potential members must adhere to being white and heterosexual – criteria Walker did not qualify for. Consequently, she filed a lawsuit against the community for discrimination, invoking civil rights laws established in 1866.
The legal challenge underscores broader societal tensions and questions surrounding segregation and racial exclusivity in modern-day America.
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The community, situated in Ravenden, a small town with a population of approximately 400, became widely known last summer. This occurred as two founders revealed their ambition to create a network of such compounds throughout the U.S. Their current focus is on their pilot project in Ravenden, where they are constructing homes, a community center, and farm facilities on the extensive acreage. Their membership policy explicitly excludes Jews, Black people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and anyone without exclusively white European ancestry.
The ongoing legal case is anticipated to challenge the legitimacy of Return to the Land’s membership policies, potentially setting a significant legal precedent for similar developments in the future.