How much is your survival worth? In this Georgia bunker, $92 per square foot.
Can you put a price tag on survival? The seller of one luxury bunker in Tifton, Georgia did: $17.5M This bunker went on the market in 2105, and though it was listed at $17.5M, the next year the price was dropped to $16M. According to REALTOR.com, the property is currently off the market. Just because it failed to find a buyer the first time, however, doesn’t mean it’s not the right bunker for you.
At the time of listing, this property, which is known as “The Facility,” was the only privately-owned luxury bunker in the United States. Incredibly, it has been certified to withstand the force of a 20,000-ton nuclear blast, with a spring system that was designed to help absorb the impact.
The shelter sits approximately 10 miles from the I-75 interstate, 45 feet underground, on an ultra-private 20-acre parcel in Tifton, which has a population of 16,568 and a median income of just $31,114. Despite its small population, Tifton has been named as one of Georgia’s most dangerous cities.
Once you consider what a city that is dangerous now might be like after the collapse of civilization, it’s easy to see why this property failed to find a buyer despite the price drop and the enviable amenities. However, after TEOTWAWKI, the areas that are less populated will become less dangerous than larger cities that are filled with desperate people who weren’t prepared. The danger level of this city could change drastically in a postapocalyptic world.
History of the Tifton Bunker
The facility was originally constructed in 1969, during the Cold War era. During this time, tension between the United States and Russia was high. In October of 1969, the US was so leery of a Russian nuclear attack that they conducted an operation that involved sending B-52 bombers that were nuclear-armed to the Soviet border. They wanted to instill a level of fear in the Soviets that would ensure they would be too afraid of American retaliation that they wouldn’t make the first strike.
Despite the paranoia of the times, The Facility has never actually been occupied by survivalists, as other bunkers here in the US sometimes are. Instead, it was originally used as a commercial training facility for communications. The building is not able to be penetrated by electromagnetic interference thanks to three-foot-thick walls that are made from 4,000-6,000 PSI hardened concrete, which made it ideal for that purpose.
This bunker was constructed under a cloud of secrecy. Those who worked on the project did not break their confidentiality agreements. This was just one of many commercial training facilities that were used by AT&T and the Bell System. There are others across the country, including others in Georgia. In the 1960s, all of these facilities were fortified against nuclear attacks.
The Facility was renovated to meet government standards during a $2.5M 2012 upgrade. Today, it is rated to accommodate 20 people for a year. If it’s estimated you’ll only need to be in the bunker for a shorter time period, the bunker can accommodate 40 people. Think nuclear blast vs. short-term social unrest.
At the time of the sale, Harry Normal REALTORS’s public relation manager Jeanne Shannon told The Blaze, “The type of buyer would (be) someone who is of substantial wealth and (likes) privacy, or (is) with the government.” If this describes you, for the right offer, who knows? They might just put The Facility back on the market.
Features You’ll Find in The Facility
Speaking of enviable amenities, there are amenities in this bunker that you’d expect to find in a modern luxury property. These include…
- Four high-end apartments
- Five staff bedrooms
- 12 bathrooms
- A theater that seats 15 and doubles as a classroom
- Environmental monitoring sensors
- Private kitchens
- A heavy-lift elevator
- A first-aid room
- A gym
- A recreation area
- A workshop
- Conference rooms
- Security internet with two DSL broadband lines
- An HVAC system
- A decon shower system
Believe it or not, that is only what The Facility has to offer underground. Above ground there is so much more. This includes a 2,000-square-foot commercial space, a 1,000-square-foot caretaker’s home, a 100-yard firearms range, a three-phase power plant and backup solar power system, aquifer access, and a four-car garage.
Whether you should buy an existing luxury bunker or have a luxury bunker custom built is a personal decision with many factors involved. Even if you decide you don’t want to ride TEOTWAWKI out in the South, you can still take inspiration from the features in the Tifton shelter when you’re deciding what your next move will be.
This property may be off the market, but you can still see the video from the listing here.
Learn more about why billionaires like Bill Gates are investing in luxury bunkers.