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Although a global pandemic and strict zoning laws stymied tiny house purchases in recent years, the popularity of these downsized alternatives to traditional homes continues to grow.
Communities of tiny houses can be found in parts of the country with tiny home-friendly zoning laws. They’re also popping up in other places, too. Many redeveloped RV parks are home to lovely tiny house communities, and some small towns are embracing tiny homes as a way to spur population growth. Several communities are even using tiny houses as a solution for homelesness. Below are 15 tiny home communities that are currently thriving in the United States.
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1. Escalante Village – Durango, Colorado
The tiny home community of Escalante Village is nestled among Colorado’s La Plata Mountains at 6,500 feet above sea level. The homes average 400 square feet and sit on lots that are 20 feet wide and 40 feet deep—enough for the home, two parked cars and a patio. In keeping with the area’s rustic feel, these tiny homes are built with knotty wood pine floors, walls, and ceilings. Amenities include access to onsite storage (for those not ready to fully downsize their belongings to tiny home size), river trails, a community garden, and award-winning fly fishing within walking distance.
2. Tiny Home Village – Bernalillo County, New Mexico
New Mexico’s Tiny Home Village is dedicated to making a home for people who previously had none. Consisting of 30 120-square foot tiny houses, the community also provides support, counseling, and more for unhoused people. A common building in the village features a living room, kitchen, dining room, and bathrooms.
3. Tiny House Block – San Diego, California
If you see downsizing to a tiny home as a means of getting close to nature, then you might like Tiny House Block, which is located in the mountains surrounding San Diego, right on the famed Pacific Crest Trail. There are opportunities to add your own tiny house to the community, or you can rent one if you want to try out the experience before diving in. Anyone wanting to live there normally has to act fast, though, as vacancies go quickly.
4. Cedar Springs Tiny Village – Cedar Springs, Ohio
Ohio’s first tiny house village has 30 lots where you can park your tiny home. Cedar Springs Tiny Village comes fully equipped with amenities that include a community garden, walking paths, WiFi, and cable connections. It’s also just a short walk to Natural Spring Resort, which offers a pool, beach, fishing, and even scuba diving (yes, the lake water is that clear). Sites are available for short stays or for leases of 13 months and longer.
5. Canoe Bay Escape Village – Canoe Bay, Wisconsin
If you’ve ever dreamed of living in a tiny home deep in the woods, Canoe Bay Escape Village in Wisconsin may be for you. Escape Village is next to Canoe Bay, a lakeside resort. The tiny house community sits in the middle of over 100 acres of forest and wetlands and includes two private lakes. Its tiny houses come in various open floor plans with queen- and king-sized beds, full-size appliances and lots of windows for viewing nature.
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6. Community First! Village – Austin, Texas
Located in Austin, Texas, Community First! Village is one of many programs throughout the country using tiny houses to tackle homelessness. The 27-acre tiny housing development consists of tiny homes (along with RVs and mobile homes) for local unhoused people. Established in 2015, the village has more than 250 residents and features a market, movie theater, organic farm, laundry facilities, and walking trails.
7. Orlando Lakefront – Orlando, Florida
Florida is full of old trailer parks, and many of them are being converted to tiny house communities. That’s the case with Orlando Lakefront. This RV park, which dates back to the 1950s, was recently revamped to include 40 tiny houses on wheels. The community has 50 spots for lease, sits on the shores of Lake Fairview, and is a short drive from downtown Orlando and, of course, Disney theme parks. Orlando Lakefront also has 14 tiny homes for rent for vacationers and those who want to try out tiny home living.
8. Lemon Cove Village – Lemon Cove, California
With many states’ zoning laws restricting where a tiny house can be parked, many RV parks are opening their doors to these smaller homes, and Lemon Cove Village is one of them. Located near California’s Sequoia National Park, you can park your tiny home on the property for as little as $450 a month. In addition to its beautiful location at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the village’s amenities include a swimming pool, onsite laundry, and high-speed internet.
9. Tiny Homes Detroit – Detroit, Michigan
Tiny houses aren’t just for those looking to downsize from more spacious full-sized houses. Many communities have found them to be a great option for those who may not otherwise be financially able to own their own home. Such is the case with the Tiny Homes Detroit community, which consists of 25 houses ranging from 250 to 400 square feet owned by qualifying residents. Occupants rent their tiny house for seven years, after which they have the opportunity to own it.
10. Spur, Texas
In the face of a shrinking population, the small North Texas town of Spur decided to “spur” growth by proclaiming itself the “first tiny house-friendly town.” Where other municipalities spurned tiny houses, Spur invited them to boost its population size and tax base. The small town is now home to dozens of tiny homes, many of which are big-city transplants looking for a simpler and slower pace of life.
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11. WeeCasa – Lyons, Colorado
If you’re considering tiny house living but aren’t sure if it’s for you, then you might want to try out WeeCasa Tiny House Resort, a community of rentable tiny homes in the Colorado Rockies. The resort’s 22 tiny houses are available for nightly rates, range in size from 165 to 400 square feet, and sleep up to five. All of the units are in close proximity to the St. Vrain Creek and a popular wedding event center. And if Lyons, Colorado, is too far away, there are also WeeCasa locations in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and Rapid City, South Dakota.
12. Lake Walk – Greer, South Carolina
The large Lake Walk Tiny Home Community boasts 43 sites on 15 acres of land on the shores of Lake Cunningham in South Carolina. You’ll find high-end features in these homes, including hardwood floors, large decks, full-size appliances, and solid countertops in the kitchen. The community has a variety of attractive amenities in addition to the lake, including nature trails, community gardens, and sweeping views of the surrounding mountains.
13. Palm Canyon Mobile Club – Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is well known for mid-century modern homes that connect with Southern California nature thanks to large windows and airy open floor plans. Most of those homes also come with hefty price tags, but not all of them. The mid-century modern tiny houses of Palm Canyon Mobile Club offer elegant style at a more affordable price than many other homes in the area. The community’s not-so-tiny floor plans range from 600 to 1,100 square feet and include sizable decks.
14. Cottage Estates – Acme, Michigan
These high-end tiny houses are located on an RV resort that sits on one of Lake Michigan’s bays. Cottage Estates’ tiny homes have about 400 square feet of living space and feature full-size appliances, hardwood floors, and large decks on 5,000-square-foot lots. You also get all the amenities you’d find in a resort, including a pool and spa, tennis courts, clubhouse, and fitness center.
15. Park Delta Bay – Isleton, California
Park Delta Bay bills itself as the only legally zoned tiny house community in Northern California. Located on the banks of the San Joaquin River, Park Delta Bay includes a mix of tiny homes on wheels as well as a dozen permanent tiny houses. There’s a community clubhouse and bathhouse along with tennis courts and volleyball courts. Park Delta Bay has openings, but your tiny home will need to be mobile if you want to move there, as the community only homes that are on wheels are accepted.
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