First, a Little History
My name is Franz X. Meier. I was born in Munich, Germany at the outbreak of the second World War as the oldest son of a traditional Bavarian restaurant family. Since I witnessed the horrors of war, and the misery of the post war period I questioned early on why innocent people had to lose their lives on the orders of dictators and powerful money interests. It became the foundation of my anti-militaristic attitudes and my support of pacifism.
​
After finishing hotel college in Munich, I gained experience in the hotel and restaurant industry in Europe. I came to the USA in 1961 and continued my education in fine hotels and country clubs in Florida, Connecticut, West Virginia, California and South Carolina. That is where I met Charles Fraser, the developer of Sea Pines and other successful resorts. He was one of the first “eco” developers in the nation and I wound up working with him for ten years.
​
During this period the writer and philosopher Ayn Rand was quite popular and I became a follower of her Objectivist philosophy. This led me to become acquainted with the writings of many other great minds, from Adam Smith, Frederic Bastiat, Lysander Spooner, Rose Wilder Lane, to Thomas Sowell, Ludwig von Mises, Tom Woods, Henry Hazlitt, F.A. Hayek and Murray Rothbard. Through them I became a committed follower of the Libertarian philosophy.
After starting my own business in 1975 I can now look back on a successful career. I owned several restaurants, managed a small hotel, operated a commercial real estate company, invested in the production of advanced building materials and started a residential and commercial development project.
​
​​More than 25 years ago I discovered Costa Rica through a longtime friend who moved here from the United States. After travelling to many parts of the coastal country I came up to Lake Arenal and found it to be the most beautiful place I had seen. I decided that this was going to be the location of my Plan B, the place where I eventually wanted to live.
​
In the year 2000 I purchased a home and a farm just outside of Nuevo Arenal, which I named Finca Marenal. Soon I realized that Finca Marenal with its beautiful views of the lake was just too beautiful for raising cattle and that it could be the perfect site for a special community supported by an organic farm.
​
​​While still living in South Carolina I developed my plan for Marenal, which is a part of Finca Marenal. As often happens my full-time move to this beautiful country took much longer than expected. But the delay also had its benefits. Since my vision had time to mature, I believe that Marenal is now the better for it.
​
​I am now a full-time resident and live in Marenal. I have never regretted my move to this peaceful nation without an army, a comfortable climate and a happy population that teaches you “Pura Vida”!
​
Here is to Liberty and Peace in the World.
Who We Are and What We Offer
​​​​​
We are a small group of locals and expats working together to create an intentional, libertarian eco-community on our beautiful property here at Lake Arenal.
​Our 22.4 hectares (55 acres) property is centrally located on the northern shore of Lake Arenal approximately 100 meters above the lake. It falls within the boundaries of Barrio San Antonio, merely two kilometers from Nuevo Arenal. All properties have breathtaking views and a serene environment. The community is framed by the natural beauty of its surroundings.
The property owners embrace a philosophy of personal freedom, liberty, and a harmonious existence with nature. We advocate these values in our community concept which stresses the importance of each person’s right to life decisions that do not harm others, and which supports a life of Pura Vida.
​Our visionary Marenal Eco Community therefore epitomizes the ideals of Liberty, Peace, and a Pura Vida lifestyle.
We are opening our arms in 2024 to like-minded individuals and families seeking a self-sufficient way of living.
Our experienced team is dedicated to making the process of purchasing and constructing your home as seamless and effortless as possible. You may consider your home as your full-time residence, or initially as a part-time residence, which we can rent for you. With expert guidance at every step, you can easily transform your dream of living in this idyllic community into a tangible reality.
​
​Currently, our Marenal Eco Community has only a few properties remaining for sale. If you are conscious of the dangerous condition of the world economy you may want to decide quickly that Marenal is the place to invest some of your hard-earned money in a solid asset that will maintain, and most likely will grow its value.
P.S. Pura Vida is a Costa Rican term that is used on and for many occasions. Its most important meaning is an “Appreciation for Life”; “Simple Living”; and “Living in the Moment”.
