These people built utopic communes in the 1960s. Here’s what they look like now
- Posted on September 24, 2026
- By CNN
- 14 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
The 1960s Back-to-the-Land movement inspired thousands of Americans to abandon urban life and establish intentional communities in rural areas. Today, these experimental communes face significant challenges as their founding members age, populations decline, and properties gradually succumb to natural deterioration. This analysis explores the current state of these once-thriving utopian settlements, examining how idealistic visions have transformed over decades and what remains of their original countercultural spirit.
Summary auto-generated by AI from the original publisher's content. Editorial standards.
These people built utopic communes in the 1960s. Here’s what they look like now
Through the Back-to-the-Land movement, communes sprung up around rural parts of the US. Decades later, their aging members have dwindled, and the homes are returning to nature.
