Deep in the woods of Deerpark, New York, sits a place that most people only ever see from a drone's perspective or through a locked gate. It’s called Dragon Springs. If you’ve spent any time online or live in the tri-state area, you've probably heard the whispers. Some call it a cult compound. Others see it as a religious refuge. It is the global headquarters for the Falun Gong movement and home to the Shen Yun Performing Arts troupe.
Honestly, the reality is a mix of high-stakes geopolitics, intense religious devotion, and a very literal fortress built to protect a community that feels it’s under constant threat.
The site covers about 400 acres. It’s massive. You’ll find Tang Dynasty-style temples, a massive rehearsal space, and schools like Fei Tian Academy of the Arts. But it isn't just a school or a monastery. For the practitioners of Dragon Springs Falun Gong, this is the "Mountain." It’s the center of their universe.
The Origins of the "Mountain"
Why here? Why Orange County?
Back in the early 2000s, the leaders of the movement needed a place. Since 1999, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has brutally suppressed Falun Gong in mainland China. We’re talking about documented cases of torture, detention, and according to several human rights reports—including the China Tribunal—forced organ harvesting. Li Hongzhi, the founder of the practice, moved to the United States. He needed a sanctuary.
They bought the land in 2000. Since then, it’s been a constant cycle of construction and controversy.
The architecture is stunning. If you look at satellite imagery, you see these sweeping, curved roofs and traditional timber framing that looks like it was plucked out of 7th-century China. It’s intentional. Li Hongzhi and his followers believe they are the true keepers of "5,000 years of civilization," a culture they claim the CCP has systematically destroyed.
Shen Yun and the Global Brand
You’ve seen the billboards. "5,000 Years of Civilization Reborn."
Shen Yun is the most visible export of Dragon Springs Falun Gong. The performers actually live and train on the compound. It’s a grueling lifestyle. Young dancers, many of whom are children of practitioners from around the world, audition for the Fei Tian Academy. If they get in, they move to the Mountain.
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It’s an insular world.
Think about the discipline required to put on those shows. The synchronization isn't just talent; it’s a byproduct of a very specific, communal lifestyle centered around the teachings of Zhuan Falun, the movement's primary text. They practice meditation and "cultivation" of character, focusing on Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.
But critics, including former practitioners who have spoken to outlets like The New Yorker and The New York Times, describe a different side. They talk about a high-pressure environment where medical treatment is sometimes discouraged in favor of spiritual healing. It’s a complicated picture. Is it a creative hub or a pressure cooker? Likely, it’s both, depending on who you ask.
The Local Conflict: It’s Not Just About Religion
If you talk to the neighbors in Deerpark, they aren't usually talking about theology. They’re talking about zoning laws.
The Dragon Springs Falun Gong site has been in a decades-long legal battle with the local town board. The issues are surprisingly mundane:
- Wastewater treatment.
- Road traffic from thousands of visitors.
- Building heights that exceed local limits.
- The environmental impact on the nearby Basher Kill stream.
Grace Woodard, a local resident and frequent critic, has been vocal about how the expansion affects the rural character of the area. It’s a classic "small town vs. large institution" story, but with the added layer of international espionage.
The people at Dragon Springs aren't just being paranoid when they install high-tech security and guards. There have been documented instances of Chinese government agents monitoring the site. In 2023, the DOJ charged two individuals for participating in a CCP-directed scheme to target Falun Gong practitioners in the U.S., including attempts to bribe an IRS official to strip the movement's non-profit status.
When you know that, the cameras and the fences start to make a lot more sense.
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What People Get Wrong About the Practice
People often lump Falun Gong into the same category as Scientology or other Western "new religious movements." That’s a bit of an oversimplification.
Fundamentally, it’s a qigong practice. It grew out of the massive boom of meditation and breathing exercises that swept China in the 1980s and 90s. It only became "political" because the Chinese government felt threatened by its popularity—at one point, there were more practitioners than there were members of the Communist Party.
At Dragon Springs Falun Gong, the lifestyle is ascetic. No smoking. No drinking. No casual dating for the students. It’s a return to a traditionalism that feels alien to modern Western sensibilities. This "tradition" is also why they’ve leaned so heavily into conservative media, like The Epoch Times. They see a world in moral decay and believe they are the ones holding the line.
The Media Empire Connection
You can't talk about the Mountain without talking about the media. The Epoch Times and NTD Television were born out of this movement. While they operate out of offices in places like New York City and California, the spiritual and intellectual heart is at Dragon Springs.
They’ve become a powerhouse in the digital age. By pivoting to pro-Trump content in 2016, they tapped into a massive audience. It was a strategic move. They saw the former president as an ally against the CCP. This political shift has made the Dragon Springs Falun Gong community a lightning rod for criticism from the American left, adding a new layer of domestic politics to an already complex international situation.
The Reality of Living at Dragon Springs
What is it like inside?
It's quiet. Most of the day is spent in rehearsals, classes, or manual labor to maintain the grounds. It is a self-sustaining ecosystem. They have their own kitchens, their own security, and their own educational system.
For the kids there, it’s a world of intense focus. They are athletes. The demands of classical Chinese dance are equal to high-level gymnastics. They are taught that their performance isn't just art—it’s a mission to save humanity by showing them "true" culture.
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That’s a heavy burden for a teenager.
Navigation the Controversy
Is it a cult? The term is loaded. Sociologists like Margaret Singer would look at the isolation and the devotion to a single leader and say yes. Others, who focus on religious freedom, argue that every monastic tradition looks like a "cult" from the outside.
The truth usually sits somewhere in the middle.
The Dragon Springs Falun Gong community is a group of people who have been through genuine trauma. Many have lost family members to Chinese prisons. They are hyper-vigilant, deeply traditional, and incredibly motivated. They’ve built a literal fortress in the woods to keep the world out, but they spend millions of dollars on shows and media to try and change that same world.
Moving Forward: What to Keep in Mind
If you're trying to make sense of this place, stop looking for a simple "good vs. evil" narrative. It doesn't exist here.
To understand the situation, you have to look at three things:
- The Human Rights Context: The persecution in China is real. The fear the residents feel is based on actual events and documented threats.
- The Local Impact: The environmental and zoning concerns of the Deerpark community are also valid. A massive complex in a small town creates real friction.
- The Spiritual Framework: You can’t understand the behavior of the people there without realizing they believe they are in a cosmic battle.
If you want to stay informed on this, don't just read one source. Look at the local reporting from the Times Herald-Record for the zoning battles. Read the Amnesty International reports for the background on why they fled China. And if you ever find yourself driving through Orange County, you can see the roofs of the temples peeking over the trees. It’s a reminder that global conflicts often find a very quiet, very strange home in the American backyard.
For those looking to engage with the community or learn more, the best path is through their public-facing events, though keep in mind these are highly curated. To see the "real" Dragon Springs, one has to look at the intersection of their legal filings, their media output, and the testimonies of those who have left the fold. That’s where the actual story lives.
Actionable Insights for Following the Dragon Springs Story:
- Monitor Local Government Minutes: If you want the unfiltered truth about expansion and environmental issues, the Deerpark Town Board meeting minutes are the gold standard. They provide the most factual, non-politicized view of the site’s growth.
- Audit Media Sources: When reading news about the group, check the "About Us" section. If it’s The Epoch Times or New Tang Dynasty (NTD), realize you are reading the movement’s internal perspective. If it’s Chinese state media (like Global Times), you are reading propaganda from their persecutors.
- Research Non-Profit Filings: Dragon Springs IoT is a 501(c)(3). Their Form 990 filings are public record and show exactly where the money goes, providing a clear picture of their financial scale.