Family-owned and operated since 1967, New Durham Estates is committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and connected community for all residents. We provide high-quality, energy-efficient manufactured homes with thoughtful neighborhood design and a focus on lasting value. Through innovation, strong partnerships, and a dedication to affordability, we help families achieve homeownership and build lasting roots in Northwest Indiana.
Our vision is to set the standard for modern manufactured housing communities by blending innovation, sustainability, and affordability. We strive to create a place where families can thrive, neighbors are connected, and future generations enjoy the benefits of safe, energy-efficient homes in a vibrant, enduring community.
In 1966, Melville Fath’s temporary job selling mobile homes during a union strike at Mobile Oil became his calling. Working at Smith Mobile Homes in Illinois, Mel envisioned creating his own manufactured home community with his wife, Thelma, a teacher with a master’s degree from Purdue. After a chance conversation with Fr. Wirtz about a 12-acre plot at the intersection of Highway 421 and State Road 2 in Westville, Indiana, the couple sold their house to secure a down payment and install the first eight home sites. They transformed homes from manufacturers like Park Estate and Ritzcraft by adding carpet and staging, even using items from their own home as showroom pieces to sell their first homes.
With their initial 72 sites filling up within three years, the Faths knew they needed to expand beyond their kitchen table operations. They proposed an ambitious plan for 260 new home sites on 100 acres, complete with an office, retail center, and large lake. Though initially rejected by the county, persistence paid off on their second attempt. Financial constraints led them to sell 60 of the 100 acres to a local doctor, but they successfully developed the remaining land in phases. By 1998, they had added a third phase to the community by purchasing and renovating a Baptist Church and School into office space and a community center. All 85 home sites would be filled over the next ten years.
The philosophy of treating employees and residents as family has always been of the utmost importance to the family. The Faths lived within their community, demonstrating their commitment to the product they sold. This approach facilitated successful succession planning with son, Gary. He started working as a twelve-year-old within the family business and eventually became a licensed installer and water treatment plant operator. Gary officially assumed responsibility when Mel and Thelma retired in 2013.
The third generation continues the family legacy, with Liz handling payroll and sales, and Tom joining in 2014 with expertise in project management. Alongside Ryan Fath and under Gary’s guidance, they’ve driven redevelopment featuring a “subdivision aesthetic” with permanent foundations, crawl spaces, and attached garages. Their innovative approach earned recognition when one of their cross-mod homes was showcased at the HUD Innovative Housing Showcase in Washington, D.C., in September. The Faths’ advice for other family businesses remains simple: “Work hard, work together as a team, never give up even when things get hard, and always be there for each other for support.”
