Cape Cod dune dwellers outraged shacks are now up for lease

[@sherrythomas3028]

He has had the deed to this place, the whole time. It's disturbing how many people missed that part.

[@danamarie8718]

It’s actually not at all clear in the video. He said his father’s friend said that if they helped dig the shack out of the sand, they could live there. He didn’t say anything about transferring title. Another time they said that initially they had long term 25 year leases, then shorter leases. And then at one point they did say he had the deed, but they didn’t actually say the deed was in his name. Nowhere in the video was it made clear that he has, or ever had, title to the property. At one point he said they were the caretakers. He didn’t say they were the owners. And he said he moved in during the pandemic.

[@avandurion]

no he doesn't the national parks eminent domained the place.

[@CarolSteinfeld]

No, he does not have a deed. You can also web search this guy's story. The park service will let his father stay another 5 years. But he has no deed.

[@curly437]

UPDATE: Calm down everyone...All but one shack was leased to the occupying families for another ten years, including Peter Clemons, Marianne Benson, and their children Andrew (shown), Elizabeth, and Tommy - the family has spent every summer there since 1974. The one shack that was not leased to currently occupying families had the currently occupying family withdraw their lease because they felt the Park Service was creating too many obstacles for them. Additionally, the Park Service has clarified rules that will make it easier for families of deed-holders to retain leases after the deed-holder passes away. Posted by another commenter

[@atxchaser]

Really appreciate the update!

[@johnthomas1422]

They weren't the governments property to make that descion because we have the right to be sevure in our possessions against unreasonable seizure. The government never had the right to decide your property is their property. Tyrants have decided othersise. That is what we are upset about, comrade. We are upset about tyrannical government.

[@ualibtard]

​@@johnthomas1422you obviously don't own a home. If you did you would know that you are given a plot number. That plot number is owned by the government. That is why you have to pay taxes on something you already bought.

[@joesphschramm3754]

​@@johnthomas1422100% right!

[@Niaaal]

Thanks for letting us know

[@wdwerker]

I had a client who’s mountain cabin was on leased National forest land. They wanted to fix a few things up but were well aware that the lease probably won’t be renewed.

[@dakmycat3688]

Plus they could sale the land then your out

[@Maybe1Someday]

So his family got a beach cabin for free on public land ? Am I missing something?

[@jeffhays1968]

ya, the word 'Deed'

[@GOPRepubliklan]

@@jeffhays1968 They also say it was acquired by eminent domain? Which means they would have been paid fair market value to sign over the deed. Why else would he be leasing a house he claims to own?

[@spencer5438]

@@GOPRepubliklanyou obviously have no idea how eminent domain actually works

[@GOPRepubliklan]

@@spencer5438 Uh, I work for the highway dept and deal with it every day. How does it work in your world?

[@wjp13]

@@spencer5438that’s literally how it works. Have you read the Uniform Relocation Act?

[@JohnMacFergus-oz5cp]

Man I wish I had a dune shack! I don't even have a garage!

[@MichaelLauzon1976]

So, what was the eventual outcome of this, seeing as how it was posted a year ago..?!

[@srt4b]

They died from climate change

[@suespaulding6447]

It’s a LEASE! It has a time limit.

[@matapendejos9190]

Just another person who thinks he owns the beach.

[@janh5199]

@@matapendejos9190 They did until the government decided they wanted it.

[@jasminemoon8298]

The fact that the state took over other people’s land in the 60's just because they said they wanted to went completely over your head didn't it? The people's familes owned the land before the state decided it wanted it and took it in eminent domain. In the 60's. The land should have never belonged to the park service to begin with if families owned it already. They shouldn't have to lease land that their family were rightful owners of to begin with

[@bikeguyhd1035]

You missed the part about the government taking the homes by eminent domain. Wake up.

[@srt4b]

@@jasminemoon8298 weren't their families paid for the property tho? If so, he has no case.

[@Imageloading...]

Deeds are for houses. It's important to obtain the land title

[@ceciljones2695]

They did the exact same thing on Shackleford Banks at the southern end of the North Carolina Outer Banks near Beaufort, NC.

[@williewonka6694]

squatting on public lands. Seems to work well for rich folk.

[@Nuttyirishman85]

Legal battle since 61. That takes some serious dough. Probably had to get rid of the deep sea fishing boat.

[@OP-fd4lh]

I agree with you, this story makes no sense. It's a lease, not a purchase. I just have no sympathy for this story.

[@never2late454]

If they have a legally registered deed to the land then it belongs to him.

[@verucasalt2391]

Rich folk? 😂😂😂😂 It’s a shack, not a palatial home.

[@yogawithjengentleyoga3614]

They had a long free ride there. I’d be grateful!

[@johnsilva9139]

Yes, don't know why he thinks he's entitled to stay there forever. Don't even think he's the owner. He calls himself the caretaker. He certainly deserved to stay there with all the work and money he put into it but this just seems to be a vacation home for him. Don't think he's being thrown out into the street.

[@BriettaA-l1t]

They didn't have a free ride. They pay taxes. They paid maintenance to upkeep those houses. Shacks there was no free ride

[@DonBurton1]

@johnsilva9139 Go to the 1:50 mark and you’ll hear that those who were allowed to stay were the ones who had the deed to the property, and that his family has the deed.

[@sirich7751]

No water, no Power, everything built by hand. These are not vacation homes but labors of love. But I do understand that these absolutely bucolic gems should be shared.

[@shireguy876]

@@johnsilva9139Didn’t you hear the part about him having a deed to the property?

[@sierravista9013]

That's nuts

[@CarolSteinfeld]

This story is not well written. The issues of leases is not well articulated. They said some folks have deeds, yet they say no more about that---did the park take those by eminent domain, paying for them? When you lease a house, you have no guarantee that you always can do so, especially when they are in a beautiful park. These people are a bit hyperindividualistic. If they wanted a guarantee, they should have purchased cottages when the were relatively cheap in the 1960s and 1970s.

[@COOLFRIEND]

The story says eminent domain.

[@jeffhays1968]

@@COOLFRIEND which would imply the feds paid them for their deeds. Did they ?

[@CarolSteinfeld]

@@COOLFRIEND I watched it again Purchased by park service via eminent domain in the 1960s, so the original owners were paid for them. This guy says his father's friend said they could live there.

[@jpmacoo]

@@CarolSteinfeld Yup, that's what I got out of this. USA took them over in the 1960s. This guy and his family have been there since the 70s. And now he feels that he has a right to it. You can't claim adverse possession against the US gov't, though. But it looks like he won in his effort to acquire the property.

[@CarolSteinfeld]

@@jpmacoo No, his father was just given 5 more years.

[@joe9743]

Those houses are technically all of our's being in a national park. Anyone should be able to rent them for a fee (that goes into upkeep)

[@The11eleven]

Property Rights existed looooong before the National Park Service! And so did governmental overreach. Boot licking also has been around much longer

[@bobabooey7088]

Nobody should live on the beach, we have ruined our beaches by building on them

[@alotl1kevegas860]

We need to get rid of imminent domain. That's just not right. The government shouldn't be able to take control of your home and property, and force you out.

[@darcymoon2109]

This guy needs to stop whining. Fill out your application for your 50 year rent/mortgage free home. My god, man. Do you expect them to just give it to you over phone? Fill. Out. The. Application. And stop acting so dang insulted about it.

[@kathleenvance8792]

It should belong to the people who have the deed anyway. The government shouldn’t be able to do whatever they want. This stuff is getting out of control. These are the quintessential beach house. Before people started caring more about commercializing the beach.

[@felixthecat2786]

Whinging?? I didn't know the government could just take the home that you built and lived in. Sounds pretty sketchy to me.

[@darcymoon2109]

@@felixthecat2786 They didn’t build it and it is on government land. Land I own. Guy should be grateful they are allowing anyone to stay. He needs to fill out the dang application. And stop whining.

[@windingroad9678]

If you have a deed it's yours. Plus look how quaint it still looks, if they go to highest bidder someone like Jaylo or Hollywood types will knock it down and build an oversized mansion ruining the landscape forever. That's probably the end goal, to get that land built up and revenue from millionaires.

[@TreeLBollingTreeMan]

@@darcymoon2109 You would be crying a different tune if this was happening to you, so just STFU!

[@akaElvira666]

This should've been kept secret. The youtube videos 8yrs ago just proves everything of value must be defended bc there's always a bully seeking to exploit ev'thin in their path

[@Teeveepicksures]

Everyone on the Cape knows about the dune shacks

[@HullTreeCare8]

Because you have a lease and you don't own the property

[@rodleypumpkins4174]

The longest case of squatting I’ve heard of.

[@pheona1164]

Yes.

[@solomongrundy3411]

Not the longest. Those who squatted in North America, Africa and 🤣

[@sherrythomas3028]

Um, I'm pretty sure it's not considered squatting if you have the deed. Which he does.

[@rodleypumpkins4174]

@ Naw it’s squatting.

[@pippishortstocking7913]

You people don't know what a deed is, I guess. 🙄

[@Teacherofall]

Am alone in thinking I would rather burn it down than watch my home be taken from me and then sold to the rich?

[@CarolSteinfeld]

Not sold. They don't own them

[@mymail4820]

You should not be jealous, respect those that do best.

[@otmargreb6110]

😆😆😆🔥🔥🔥😡😡😡

[@molliwilson5639]

Well, who would buy it? You can’t own the land because, so basically the cabin or whatever has no value on the market because the government owns the land.

[@vincentrockel1149]

The "requirements " is just government crony speak for giving it to the connected.

[@Mr91495osh]

Stiltsville off Key Biscayne went thru this 30 years ago. Some owners won their lease and some gave up.

[@EnlistedBombin]

All national parks are doing this to the leases, some even sold them properties some forced them to move and turned them into parks. I dono what happened in the last 2 years to the park service but they are after leases.

[@bbsara0146]

hopefully property taxes were paid on it. then you might be able to have legal grounds.

[@Jean-kp6cu]

The Cape Cod National Seashore was created to protect the beauty of all it's unique ecosystems from destruction by development, including here.

[@teresafuller3912]

I don't feel sorry for anyone who thinks they should own the beach.

[@Joemondaking]

I don’t feel sorry for anyone who can’t afford such a thing. Humans inhabiting beaches has been happening for centuries. But seriously that is so ridiculous, what’s next no one should own a mountain peak? No one should own a pond? Get outta here clown

[@NeilMacEwen-u7i]

Good morning commy

[@bobabooey7088]

We have ruined many a beach by putting houses up and selfish citizens taking more and more

[@SeanTheEvans]

@@Joemondaking uh, most of our mountain peaks aren't privately owned, at least in the US, buddy.

[@Joemondaking]

@ 🤣major mountain peaks like mount Washington are completely different than the typical “mountain peaks” which are primarily privately owned in the US. They come in all shapes and sizes. Also I’m not your buddy, loser.

[@amandahirschfeld7382]

What a bunch of BS. Leave the family's alone. This is so wrong on so many levels. So once again the poor lose and the rich win...shameful.

[@SSJIndy]

"We're from the government and we're here to take your property away from you."

[@GeneralLeia]

It’s the govts property but okay

[@SSJIndy]

@ grabbed through eminent domain in the 60’s according to the story.

[@EJaneS]

“You can never go home again.”

[@AhmaMcC]

Wonder about update

[@khills]

All but one shack was leased to the occupying families for another ten years, including Peter Clemons, Marianne Benson, and their children Andrew (shown), Elizabeth, and Tommy - the family has spent every summer there since 1974. The one shack that was not leased to currently occupying families had the currently occupying family withdraw their lease because they felt the Park Service was creating too many obstacles for them. Additionally, the Park Service has clarified rules that will make it easier for families of deed-holders to retain leases after the deed-holder passes away.

[@Dfl87165]

How is it “his” house? What’s the legal situation?

[@chevy4x466]

So I get to live in the state parks for free too?

[@aaroncohoon5603]

He has a deed

[@heavencantwait1218]

He says people don’t know what kind of work they’re looking at well then looks like he’s not done a whole lot of work but maybe unburied it

[@blaydCA]

It looks in very GOOD shape for that area. That beach shack is VERY high upkeep to keep even intact. Very harsh storms, and sandblasted frequently.

[@improvisedsurvival5967]

Looks good to me

[@may5588]

Looks like The Summer of 42.

[@jimbo2834]

Great book and a good movie!

[@Karie-d3b]

Your age is obvious,,,,😅😅

[@MeeMawCummins]

First thing I thought of . Never read the book , but remember seeing the movie as a kid .

[@onisgagan2481]

It’s public property, lease should reflect fair market value …

[@GeorgeWheeler-s7e]

The parks service took several hundred acres of oceanfront land decades ago out here. Paid a few hundred bucks an acre, eminent domain. Fight em.

[@martinherrington4478]

Sounds like theft.

[@aaroncohoon5603]

Why are so many commentators omitting the fact the guy in the video has the deed to the shack @1:52

[@lindastrickland5771]

Deed to the shack but not the land is my understanding.

[@dunebillyofswanbeach4294]

Many of the more well heeled MA people have now either bought or have had homes built on what used to be the remote area of the northernmost Outer Banks area of NC. I wish they’d stayed in the Cape Cod neighborhood. We’re being overrun here.

[@unclegeorge7845]

The key words are "Lease" and "Fee Simple". Many second generation lease holders get these two word(s) confused. I missed how much he and his family had paid in property taxes?

[@upperkeeldrum]

A real disgrace what these legal leaders have to go through fighting a corrupt legal authority.

[@wilburshaw9330]

Honestly, you couldn’t pay me to stay there.

[@explorewithme4707]

He said some guy said he could stay there if he helped dig it out?

[@sherrys.2259]

When I was young, we would never have this conversation. People just lived. There were even little houses on the beach in Santa Barbara. All of the beauty and charm is being killed.

[@WatchTashi]

This is insane.

[@saffronskies333]

C'mon park service... can't you leave well enough alone? The people who are already there respect the land more than anyone else will...

[@AbNomal621]

Totally disagree. The only thing he should possibly get is the opportunity to outbid the highest bidder. His dad knew they were squatters. He knew he took over the squatting. And now he cry’s because all that rent free time has come to an end.

[@lynnwilliams4006]

How can a shack be outraged? It amazes me when educated journalists write sentences without proper punctuation.

[@sgc1401]

It is the Cape Cod dune dwellers who are outraged.

[@improvisedsurvival5967]

Rich people want the coast property. The beach out there is perfect not many living out there. Not hard to see why they want to steal other peoples property.

[@kodyjbosch1]

Meanwhile the National Park Service has billions upon billions of dollars on backlog of their buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure that is falling down (in some cases roads have literally disappeared), is considered one of the worst employers in the country, can't even manage its own park concessions so it hires a conservative billionaire to run its concessions like a feudal overlord reigning over serfs (Xanterra Travel collection). THe myopia of going to make a problem of where there wasn't one! Haven"t they heard of "take care of your own side of the street first?" So Our National parks should have no full time residents ? Don't those full time residents and their vernacular architecture constitute just as much of our collective cultural heritage as the birds and trees themselves? "Environmental protection" was never meant to be weaponized into yet another land grab. If it ain broke don't fix it !

[@catistrolling7333]

Jealous

[@AbNomal621]

Cry me a river. His family have been squatters for years and KNOW they are squatters. During all those battles I guess they figured they would be given the land for free. If it means so much he should bid and bid high. Frankly the only “curtesy” he should be given is the chance to pay 5 or 10 percent above the highest bid should he want.

[@jujube8067]

His dad’s friend said they could live there, but the friend still held the deed? Wouldn’t it pass to his family? Or does the deed die when the deed holder dies? If the park took them over in 1961 then what is the issue?

[@CarolSteinfeld]

some are deeded and some are not. The deeded ones can stay

[@aaroncohoon5603]

He has the deed for his shack

[@CarolSteinfeld]

@@aaroncohoon5603 That is not what he says. He only says his family has stayed there for years and years.

[@jesusisalive3227]

Emanate domane is total bs!

[@tashie6288]

How pathetic! They lived here for free for generations! Why didn’t this guy save his money??? Unreal!

[@sherrythomas3028]

He has the deed and paid taxes...

[@bikeguyhd1035]

@@tashie6288 he paid property tax, fees, and paid for all the maintenance, upkeep and repairs for the property. That is behavior of a property owner, not a freeloading tenant.

[@johnd.5601]

Taxachusetts has been stealing homes for decades! The paperwork is always perfect. Taxachusetts uses the finest bureaucrats with the lowest ethical standards possible. Taxachusetts stole my home!

[@Paul-q5c]

Boo boo ! Someone else’s turn.

[@jr9762]

They should have destroyed all the shacks which would have eliminated this current mess. Maybe kept one or two as museums.

[@CarolSteinfeld]

That's actually a not-bad idea.

[@UncaDave]

@@CarolSteinfeldActually historically the Park Service has done just that in other areas. Research the Everglades National Park to see those actions.

[@MaiDove3]

The greed of rich and powerful people has ruined Cape Cod. Nothing is affordable.

[@barbaracilley8200]

If it going to the highest bidder, will they be able to keep people from the beach?? Are they purchasing it, so they can rebuild or just leasing it again?

[@miguelcadete2495]

Not so much the highest bidder, probably the most connected. It is Massachusetts after all, the good old boy state.

[@roberth3094]

I would think the Park Service would have more important projects to do.

[@molliwilson5639]

Well, they don’t own the land. They only own the actual cabin structure ( or trailer)in some cases . I’ve seen this happen in Washington state, Hawaii etc. one leases the land because it’s public land …

[@debra6513]

Occasionally homes come up for sale that the forest service owns the land, Lol I run as far away as I can cause they can just uproot you, this situation however seems a little different, be grateful you had it rent free for how long?? Life isn’t free and if they own the land well… they can do what they want. Been to P-Town a zillion time and love the place, used to live in Ma and I really miss the seafood and the holiday season is so quaint New England, Really want to leave the Northwest and move to Maine❤️

[@Toekneepowers]

Does anyone care what the elite think in Cape Cod?

[@CarolAnn-gh9fl]

Hopefully they keep the rights. But there’s a lot of money involved and I’m sure they have it.

[@abelincoln3261]

This story is not only not unique it applies to many state and federal land issues. Example, In Louisiana there is a levee ... Zeppelin has a song about it... When I was a kid many families had what we called Camps.. they were homes,.. modest like these Dune Cabins, with decks some on the water some really nice and some basically throw together but mostly all were cared for and there was no least...they were on state land.. these were Camps / cabins built by families like mine ... out of their own money and time.. These Camps existed as they were for over 50 years and one year he State of Louisiana said okay time is up... They must be torn down or we will tear them down, they did and those Camps no longer exist. Ours was right next door to The Legendary Carlos Marcello the Sicilian Italian Mobster... He wasn't there much but when he was... It was Black cadis and big hairy machine gun toting body guards... and dolled up girls... or huge families with tons of kids like ours... 99% of our area are Roman Catholics. Anyway my point is from the Dune cabins to the Cajun Louisiana Levee Camps to our world famous Atchafalaya Basin Swamp House boats... Living free and easy is disappearing one community after another ! Almost always the true culprit is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ !

[@Cagsjdr5]

That’s absolutely disgusting… how can they even do that… just WOW!

[@improvisedsurvival5967]

They should make him final owner when he passes it his up for lease. Taking it from him is greed.

[@willberg8599]

Another thing I need which I didn't even know existed

[@paigefoster8396]

They should look up adverse possession laws

[@theresehopkins1581]

Doesn't the park service have anything better to do??? So embarrassed that this is happening in Massachusetts.... we're supposed to be better than that!!! Unbelievable 🙄

[@veramae4098]

Taking the house by eminent domain means this family was paid for this house and land and now it belongs to the Park Service. But he still wants to keep it. "Wow, that's a hard word." This is a genius.

[@FOffer-yz2jl]

​@@veramae4098 Uncalculable genius 😁

[@molliwilson5639]

Well, they make money off the structures on the land itself in that you are paying for a lease . The land itself will never be for sale because it is owned by the state or the federal government.

[@lah1743]

Too bad people will bid against them. Seems cruel and unnecessary.

[@1995dresser]

Think about it do really own anything in this country because its all up for search and seizure at any point especially the seizure part

[@mosbysmen]

that guy should get a 50 year lease and then the nps should get it .

[@DickyNuts]

what part of you don't own this place do they not understand?

[@sharon-o7v]

Unconscienable

[@MichaelKurse]

My house is a 130 years old dump,( I love it, totally paid off years ago,but this a train wreck.

[@thecam0073]

Truly horrible

[@avandurion]

yo I would also want a log cabin in the middle of Yellowstone

[@JoeKyser]

I mean the taxes they pay must be worth something

[@mikhellen3267]

Oh boy, better make sure that he gets all those personal items into a storage unit before something actually happens, whether it be taken or in a slip of a match

[@delavan9141]

Interesting how the narrator slipped in the "they even built an outhouse." Yikes, I wonder how well that's going down, no pun intended.

[@jenniferkincaid6148]

WTF how can they lease out someones home while they're in it?....

[@ilonarosenason2475]

Wow, terrible 😢

[@fisherman5845]

That's the way of the world the guy with the fastest stack wins

[@SRocco-dv8we]

Gotta love people ….when they live for 50 years for free ? Tiny rent ? No rent ? ..where they don’t own the land , well stuff /everything comes to an end . And all THE NOSTALGIA , ain’t going to change it . THEY DONT OWN THEM . HELLO ? It’s over despite your inappropriate whining . 😮

[@jeffhays1968]

So the actual ones that are deeded are somehow public ? That's not how a deed actually works, but whatever.

[@SRocco-dv8we]

@ can’t speak for the bozos that produced the cry baby documentary. HOWEVER , you typically DO NOT , get a deed on a Public piece of property , ever ! And if it was private property …eminent domain takes the deeded/ ownership away ! Obviously 🙄. It’s not a GREY AREA , AT ALL. Government/ towns use eminent domain to take land ALL THE TIME . The extreme whining part is just crybaby stuff .

[@peab9179]

a lot of people don't even have a home.... let alone a free extra one.

[@BenGates101]

Stop the destruction of the shacks

[@VernonSander]

They want to replace those Shacks with multi-million dollar beach homes.Same old story money,who has and who doesn't.

[@CarolSteinfeld]

Where do you get that? Just guessing? These are protected beach dunes. You even would have a hard time getting permits if this was private land.

[@FahimibnDawud]

That "shack" would be at least $750,000 minimum in my area!

[@l-train2098]

Wow, this is also happening in hawaii.

[@shootpse88]

Its a leaseback you knew when it expired and that you had to leave

[@DougFregia]

I feel bad for the dude. I've lost everything a few times due to women and hurricanes. There's no easy way to go through them kinda times.

[@llrmiller]

Why are tax dollars being spent on something that doesn’t really seem to be an issue?

[@roysmith8002]

No such thing as a free lunch, especially if you've had a seat at the table for thirty years.

[@mrchairman08]

Beach cottage on Friends with the ground level floor covered in sand

[@virgimaga7625]

Plans were drawn up back in the 60's to turn it all into an ocean side Atlantic city Coney Island style amusement park. There is another documentary where one of the dune dwellers explain how his mother, artists like Ross Moffett and political activists convinced the town to donate the land to the National Seashore Park Service. Provincetown National Seashore was born to preserve the natural beauty of the area. I don't understand most of your comments, it sadly reflect the European and American mentality of money rules everything. Do these people think that they can live for free? They are being called freeloaders, they are renting and they know what to expect, etc... They have more right to be there than anyone else, they have the moral right to stay there and they are willing to pay rent and reach an agreement with the Park Service. I guarantee most of them want to stay in their homes. The relatives and ancestors of these dwellers have built these shacks, some of them were rebuilt in the 70's, they wouldn't even exist if they hadn't been maintained with love and care. These people trully appreciate their surroundings. They land didn't even belong to the National Park Service in the first place and these shacks wouldn't exist if they hadn't been mainained and preserved for the last 60 years. The dunes are alive, they bury the shacks that are built over piles and it has to be constantly removed.

[@robertgriffin2046]

It is not your house, you've mooched for 50 years. Bye Bye.

[@madjack8893]

He has a deed.

[@dodgeguyz]

It’s is his and his families that owned it before the government stole it in the 60’s!

[@BG-mr5xv]

Same thing happened at the Indiana Dunes. The Feds took the land and the houses.

[@curly437]

Yes, go to bid but this family should have right of first refusal. Both sides are right AND wrong

[@CrudelyDone]

That seatbelt chime.

[@skybaby444]

At least when the news is biased, as in this case, it’s for a valid cause.