Key Takeaways:

• A group called Return to the Land built two whites-only sites in Arkansas.
• They aim to create a white ethnostate through private membership rules
• . Similar movements have tried this in North Dakota, Maine, and the Northwest.
• Local residents and officials have challenged these efforts successfully.
• Arkansas is reviewing the group’s actions for possible legal violations.

White Ethnostate Plans in Arkansas and Appalachia

In October 2023, Return to the Land started a whites-only community in the Ozarks. Then they added a second site nearby in early 2025. They call themselves a private membership group. This label lets them set strict rules on who can join. They even plan four more sites. These include another spot in the Ozarks and two in Appalachia. Their goal is to build a white ethnostate where only white people live.

Co-founder Eric Orwoll spoke plainly. He said, “You want a white nation? Build a white town … it can be done. We’re doing it.” He stressed that members must share similar views on race and faith. Moreover, the group bans people based on race, religion, and sexual orientation. As a result, many see their work as open racism. Yet, they argue private groups can set any membership rules they like.

Why Some Groups Seek a White Ethnostate

White nationalists view a white ethnostate as the ultimate goal. They believe the white race needs a safe space to survive. Throughout history, they have pushed big plans and small enclaves. In the 1970s and ’80s, the Northwest Imperative aimed to carve out five states for white people. Leaders like Richard Butler and David Lane backed it. They thought the Pacific Northwest had many white residents and empty land.

Today, groups like the Northwest Front still promote this dream. Meanwhile, in the Northeast, some extremists eyed New England for a white homeland. In 2018, a town manager in Maine lost his job after sharing pro-white views. Then in 2023, a neo-Nazi splinter group outlined plans to claim six New England states. They hoped to turn them into a white-only zone.

However, taking over entire states seems impossible without conflict. Therefore, many now focus on smaller plots of land. They buy rural lots, form private groups, and call their areas whites-only.

Smaller Enclaves as a Strategy

In 2013, neo-Nazi Craig Cobb tried to buy land in Leith, North Dakota. He wanted to make that town a whites-only enclave. Yet local residents fought back hard. Cobb even faced felony charges after confronting people with a gun. He later lost the property and left town.

Likewise, in 2021, Christopher Pohlhaus, a former Marine, planned a white-only community in Maine. He built a small training camp there. But media reports and public pressure forced him to sell and move away.

Now, Return to the Land follows this model in Arkansas. They use private membership to sidestep civil rights laws. Essentially, they say their land is not public. Their sites exist under private ownership. Thus, they claim they can set any rules they want.

How Communities Push Back

When extremists target small towns, locals often unite. In Leith, residents launched a simple website to expose Cobb’s plans. They then held meetings and passed new town rules. This effort kept the enclave from growing.

In Maine, media coverage exposed Pohlhaus’s project. Citizens rallied, and officials condemned his work. He could not sell land or recruit members.

In Arkansas, state officials now watch Return to the Land closely. In July 2025, the attorney general opened a review of their actions. He said he saw no clear law broken yet. Still, he stressed that racism has no place in a free society. If laws do exist to block the group, he will act.

The Dangers of a White Ethnostate

The push for a white ethnostate links to hate and violence. Many white nationalists embrace the “great replacement theory.” This is a conspiracy that claims nonwhite immigration will erase white culture. It inspired the 2019 El Paso massacre. In that attack, 23 people died, most of them Hispanic.

Then in 2022, a shooter killed 10 Black people in Buffalo. He left a manifesto driven by the same conspiracy. He even chose a store in a majority Black neighborhood. These events show the real threat behind the idea of a white ethnostate. If extremists control land, they gain training ground. They also gain safe havens for hate plots.

What Comes Next for Rural America

First, communities need to stay alert. Families, churches, and local leaders can share news. They can track land sales and new groups. Second, officials can extend old civil rights laws. Some laws ban private clubs that exclude people by race. Third, neighbors can expose extremist plans online. Social media posts can spark public outcry fast.

Moreover, schools can teach teens about the dangers of hate. When young people learn early, they may reject extremist lies. Finally, citizens can vote for leaders who oppose racism. They can pass laws to stop private groups from claiming public power.

In the end, a white ethnostate cannot grow if people unite. Small towns have shown that a few concerned voices can halt hate. Meanwhile, law enforcement can monitor extremists without violating rights. Together, these steps can keep rural America open and safe for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a private membership group exclude people by race?

A private group may claim it is not open to the public. Then it can set strict rules on who joins. However, civil rights laws often ban race-based exclusion, even in private clubs.

What is the “great replacement theory”?

This is a false idea that nonwhite immigration will destroy the white race. Extremists use it to justify hate crimes and mass violence.

Can states stop white-only communities from forming?

Yes, states can enforce civil rights laws. They can also pass new rules banning racial exclusion in any organization or club.

How can residents learn about extremist plans in their area?

They can watch land sale records, follow local news, and join community meetings. Sharing information online also helps warn neighbors.