Apocalypse-proof condos already sold out
You can survive the end of the world in this charming nuclear missile silo. The views aren't great, but there won't be anything to see outside anyway.
What's your favorite doomsday scenario? Epidemic? Nuclear fallout? The Rapture redux? How about the Mayan apocalypse?
None of these will ruin your day if you live in Survival Condo, a converted nuclear ballistic missile silo in Kansas. With supplies of food, air, and water, you can wait out Armageddon underground.
For years, developer Larry Hall, a former software engineer, has been working on a 1960s-era Atlas F missile silo in north-central Kansas, turning it into luxury lockdown residences in preparation for inevitable end-times (see cleanup photos here). He says all units in the complex sold out this month, and there's even a waiting list.
Why did he want to turn this 174-foot-deep hole into condos? "To have a safe place for the increasing number of threats that are occurring," Hall says. But why are people willing to pay $2 million apiece for the 1,820-square-foot units?
"Pick any of the following: global climate change, fear of terrorism, possible economic collapse, the solar cycle and possible loss of power grid, possible pandemics, civil unrest, and food shortages."
Also on his Web site: the planet Nibiru, a stray heavenly body that will supposedly do a drive-by on the Earth one day.
Survival Condo will have enough supplies of site-grown food and purified well and rain water to house 70 people in lockdown for years. Just so they won't go insane, the silo would also have facilities like a spa, movie theater, classrooms, a bar, and a pool.
The swank residential spaces, meanwhile, would feature Jacuzzis, large HDTV panels simulating windows, and deluxe appliances.
Electricity will be produced with a diesel generator and wind turbines. The site would also have a weapons cache, as well as security cameras and electric fences outside--no doubt to keep the hordes of apocalyptic zombies at bay.
There were dozens of Atlas silos built around the U.S., and many others have also been turned into homes. Web sites like MissileBases.com advertise former Nike, Atlas, and Titan launch sites that are for sale and ready for conversion to doomsday shelters. Survival Condo, however, is special, according to Hall.
"This is the only Atlas F where the entire facility was converted," he says. "Others have done parts of the facility, but to my knowledge this is the only one where the entire facility was converted and modernized."
Hall says that one of the condos in the silo is complete, and the rest will be ready in 8 to 10 weeks. Meanwhile, he's negotiating to build two or three more shelters in decommissioned silos.
So maybe it's not too late for you, after all. You'd better start saving up right now.