Quaint cabins, one room schoolhouses, fresh goat milk in the afternoon, and everyone is white. This is the system at the all White community in Ozark, Arkansas, called Return to the Land. The community has a lengthy process to be invited in, they require common continental ancestry, in-person-interviews, criminal background checks, ancestral questionnaires, and picture proof of relatives.
Their biggest focus is keeping the community exclusive. On their website, they say they want to “facilitate individuals and groups that share common ancestry to purchase land in rural areas.” An interesting goal, given that 98 percent of rural land in America is owned by White Americans. The land purchased was 160 acres for $237,000. Eric Orwoll, the founder of Return to the Land, has a goal to create settlements across America. The settlement includes a barbecue restaurant, community center, and a goat pen. All children are required to be homeschooled; Orwoll believes parents should educate their kids to their liking.
In an interview with The New York Times, founder Eric Orwoll expressed that he wanted to make a community for White people to feel comfortable and live around people with similar ideologies. Orwoll was born in La Mirada, California, and grew up Libertarian. He attended The Eastman School of Music, then joined the Shen Yun production, which has received numerous cult accusations Orwoll said he admires elements of their organization. He also embarked on a self study of Greek philosophy, where he posted videos of his thoughts on different concepts and started to attract a crowd. With this crowd, he was brought into conversations surrounding U.S. demographics and the recent shifts. Through these conversations, he gained a platform and a following. He also met his co-founder Peter Cserce, a former jazz musician during this time.
Through the combined elements of Shen Yun, Greek society, and white nationalist themes, “Return to the Land” was created.
Peter Cserce, the co-founder, has a hefty past. He currently faces assault charges in Ecuador, for stabbing a miner and stealing large funds from a vegan/landbuy community he was once a part of named Fruit Haven. Cserce claims he had a “violent encounter” with a miner that was self defense, and he currently has a Go-FundMe to help with legal aid. Cserce left Ecuador in 2023 and it was during that time when he met Orwoll, and where they birthed the idea of their land plot.
Return to the Land has faced loads of criticism since its creation. Many believe that it’s discriminatory and goes against the Fair Housing Act (prohibits discrimination based on housing), and the Civil Rights Act (prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national orientation). The New York Times reported their founder saying an application from someone who’s not white could result in being denied. Their founders and their lawyer have stated that they aren’t in violation and are prepared to defend themselves against any suits. Millbrook High School student, Seve Soler, remarks, “That is discriminatory by nature, segregation laws were made to get rid of only white spaces, it goes against everything.” Civil rights organizations have made similar statements, and the NAACP has denounced the new living development. The future of the commune is unknown, criticism will most likely increase as it grows, but it’s bringing lots of questions to many people. Another student at Millbrook High School, Eli Gartenberg, added , “I think that the country has been established in a way that shouldn’t allow these things, it’s honestly hard to take seriously, Lord of the flies situation it will probably not last for more than 4 months.” The life span of Return to the Land is unknown, but what is even more unknown is what is yet to come.
