Groups call for investigation of controversial off-grid community near Ravenden

Above: “Return to the Land” co-founder Eric Orwoll in a screenshot from a Sky News interview posted earlier this week.

A planned residential development in northeast Arkansas has drawn criticism from civil rights groups and national organizations over concerns it may violate anti-discrimination housing laws.

The development, known as “Return to the Land,” is located near the town of Ravenden and was co-founded by Eric Orwoll and Peter Csere. The approximately 150-acre off-grid property is marketed as a private community for individuals with “shared cultural values,” according to the group’s website.

Reports from multiple news outlets and watchdog organizations allege the community excludes Jewish individuals and nonwhite residents. The Anti-Defamation League has described the project as one of the most structured white supremacist residential efforts in the country, citing its use of screening interviews, ancestral verification, and a stated goal of “preserving European heritage.”

“This is the first I’ve heard of these allegations. Racial discrimination has no place in Arkansas or anywhere in a free society. These allegations raise all sorts of legal issues, including constitutional concerns.

“My office is reviewing the matter.” — Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin

Legal experts say the community’s structure may test the boundaries of the Fair Housing Act. Stacy Seicshnaydre, a law professor at Tulane University, told The Forward that labeling the property as a private club may not be enough to exempt it from anti-discrimination laws, especially if the primary use is residential.

Orwoll, a YouTube content creator and public face of the project, has said the group’s goal is to create intentional communities rooted in self-reliance and shared identity. In public statements, he has denied violating any laws and said the community operates within its legal rights as a private membership association.

Critics, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, have called for federal and state investigations, describing the project as an attempt to circumvent civil rights protections under the guise of community building.

The site currently features basic infrastructure, including tents, tiny homes, outhouses and wells. It is believed that a small number of families are currently living on the property, homeschooling their children and relying on shared resources.

Officials have not announced any legal action against the developers, and it remains unclear whether the settlement meets the legal definition of a housing provider under federal law.

In an article posted on Monday, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin told U.K.-based outlet Sky News the following:

“This is the first I’ve heard of these allegations. Racial discrimination has no place in Arkansas or anywhere in a free society. These allegations raise all sorts of legal issues, including constitutional concerns.

“My office is reviewing the matter.”

The group has announced plans to expand to other states.