The Most Hippie Town in Missouri is Really Far Out, Man
More and more I'm hearing this word used to describe a lifestyle that hasn't been used in nearly 50 years. It's the word "hippie" and there's one part of Missouri that is considered the most "hippie" place in the state and it really is far out - literally.
I was amused when I saw that Thrillist has shared their new 2023 version of the best hippie towns in each state. So what exactly is a hippie these days? According to Thrillist, "they range from free spirits on college campuses to mountain-dwelling stoners, boomers still living in the '60s, and boomers-turned-yuppies who buy expensive art".
Fair enough, but what Missouri town best represents that famous hippie lifestyle?
According to their list, it's Tecumseh which is the home of East Wind Community which was born during the hippie revolution in 1973.
Here's the mission statement of East Wind Community directly from their official website:
Ultimately, we seek to maintain and continually improve this decades strong, living example of what can happen when people see that working together for a common purpose makes life easier and more fulfilling.
It's worth mentioning that this isn't a community you can just barge into. They offer what they describe as a "path to membership" on their website. You can tell that this is a tight community of people who don't want someone from the outside coming in and messing up their vibe and who can blame them?
The hippie lifestyle has become a hot topic thanks in part to a recent movie starring Kelsey Grammer of Frasier fame that highlighted this movement in the late 1960's and early 1970's.
Perhaps this outlook on life will make a comeback? Anything is possible.