Utopian communities are meant to be perfect little societies where everything runs like clockwork & everyone gets along. All the problems of the big bad world? They don’t exist here. Unfortunately, history has shown us that the road to utopia is far bumpier than most people expect. Here are fifteen “utopian” communities that ended up anything but.
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Love for All, Problems for Many
In the Oneida Community in New York, everyone was married to each other—sounds like a recipe for drama. And it was! It also had a breeding program that aimed to create superhumans, which just added to the issues. In theory, the community would eliminate jealousy & possessiveness. The reality was far worse.
From Utopia to Tragedy
Jonestown started with a dream of a socialist paradise free from oppression. Unfortunately, under Jim Jones’ leadership, things took a seriously dark turn—it ended with the tragic mass suicide of over 900 people. Even now, Jonestown is used as an example of how severely things can go wrong in a utopian community.
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Neighbors Not Welcome
In Oregon, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh’s followers created a group called Rajneeshpuram in the name of peace & love. Instead, they ended up in a heap of trouble that included clashes with locals and a bioterror attack in 1984. Nobody died from this bioterror attack, thankfully, although more than 700 people were hospitalized.
Bankruptcy Bummer
The focus of Brook Farm in Massachusetts was intellect, art & living communally. Despite their high ideals, they just couldn’t make the finances work because creating a utopia is rather expensive! The group lacked a solid plan to keep the lights on and were eventually left in the dark.
Too Idealistic for Its Own Good
Fruitlands was also in Massachusetts and it took idealism to the extreme. The followers did not allow for animal labor and were strict vegans. So what was the problem? It was all just too much. The community lasted barely a year before everyone gave up & proved that you can be too idealistic for your own good.
A Celibate End
The Shakers had a lot going for them including great furniture & strong work ethic. They also had a strong sense of community! Yet their rule of celibacy meant they weren’t making any little Shakers and that’s hardly a great strategy for keeping a community going. Over time, their numbers dwindled & most of the original communities became museums instead.
Dissonant Notes
New Harmony in Indiana was Robert Owen’s attempt at creating a perfect society although not everyone was on the same page about how to live together harmoniously. Eventually, the community fell apart just two years later. There were quite literally too many cooks in the kitchen!
Success to Decline
The Harmony Society had it all—economic success, a strong community & a solid spiritual foundation. Unfortunately, internal conflicts and leadership battles took their toll so the community eventually declined. Even when you’ve got a good thing going, keeping it together is a whole other challenge.
The Dream vs. The Reality
Arcosanti in Arizona was supposed to be an architectural utopia that mixed ecology with architecture. Yet despite its visionary design, the community has struggled to fully realize its ambitious goals. The community is still around now—you can even visit and stay overnight if you feel like it!
The Free Town’s Challenges
Over in Copenhagen, Denmark, is Christiania – a community that declared itself a free town in the 1970s. The community has quite an open attitude towards cannabis—but it’s not all peace & love. Legal battles with the government have caused all kinds of problems. Factor in people’s concerns about the drug trade and it’s not hard to see why this utopia has failed.
Not Quite the Dream
Yes, there’s actually a place called Utopia in Ohio but its history is quite ironic! It was founded in the 1840s by followers of Charles Fourier, a French socialist — yet the community had to deal with issues like floods & climbing expenses. And after several financial problems, the town pretty much fizzled out. It’s now more of a ghost town than a successful community.
The Artist’s Utopia That Dropped Off
In the 1960s, Drop City, Colorado, was a popular place for artists & hippies to truly express themselves and be creative. It later became famous for its funky geodesic domes made from cartops. However, as more people dropped in, resources depleted and people’s patience started to disappear. The dream mostly dissolved by the 1970s.
The Highs and Lows of High Plains Living
Libre was another Colorado experiment in communal living that emerged in the same decade, with the same kinds of people living here, too. But living at high altitude comes with its own set of challenges like harsh winters & isolation. Some residents have managed to stick it out, though.
A Turn for the Worse
Synanon started as a drug rehabilitation program yet soon morphed into something much more sinister over time. The community began supporting increasingly authoritarian behavior, including the “Synaon Game” which was supposed to be therapeutic – but was really just ‘attack therapy’. Really, though, it caused its victims severe psychological abuse.
Forgetting Family Ties
The Sullivan Institute in New York City took the idea of redefining family to an extreme by discouraging traditional family bonds. Instead, they encouraged communal living and children grew up in environments without stable parental figures. It was just as damaging as it sounds. Some critics argue that such practices were a kind of psychological manipulation.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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