How to Build an Underground Bunker

Watch Ryder

Mike, the owner, dug it out from 1995 to 1997 by hand with no mechanized equipment to help him. This was at 10,000 feet elevation with short summer seasons. The most expensive consideration was buying concrete (about 100 bags of 80 lb concrete) to the total of $1000 - $1500.

Unfortunately there are no pictures (that I am aware of) of the 1995-97 digging as this was before digital cameras and the builder was on his own with no-one to take pictures. (I don't think he began taking pictures until 1999-2000?).

The plan (not followed to the letter, but you'll get the picture)



Images...

Blast Doors:

These are steel and reinforced with concrete in the event of a big TEOTWAKI.



Roof Cross-section (sort-of):

Three layers of logs, 6 layers of waterproof sheeting, concrete and dirt



Bunk-beds and Ladder for accessing Emergency Hatch



Emergency Hatch



Landscaping and drainage ongoing:



Gun Port



Stores and Tools





Covert Exhaust system for Stove (tree stump faces road):



Roof goes into the Mountain! Maybe one day they'll be another tunnel going to the Cabin Build (that's another story though )



The design and plans shown in the vid are of a small pole shelter triple-clad with roof logs and sheeting (waterproof).

This allows the weight of concrete and earth on top for the overhead. For the walls logs and steel 'H' Beams along with more sheeting (waterproof) then earth.

The internal space resembles an 'L' shape as recommended for fallout / blast shelters. This is small but incredibly strong and resistant to cave-ins, earthquakes, disasters. The shelter is multi-functional with two bunks and two stoves providing heat.

A main entrance with a steel blast door and an emergency exit / trapdoor are installed.

The year round temperature is about 35 - 45 degrees without being heated. The bunker has been featured on multiple social-sites and Mike is often contacted by television companies for it to be shown on mainstream broadcasts. The Colony short-listed him for appearing on the show but ultimately another was chosen.

However when the challenging conditions are revealed to TV companies (short accessible seasons, snow fall requiring snow-mobiles etc) the producers normally go for an easy access bunker elsewhere and underground shelters that are more fancy.

This is doable by any able-bodied male (or female if driven enough) with the right location.

The location inspired a fictional film which was shot at Mike's Bunker called After The Fall / Raiders of the Mountain Hold:

I'd have many more pictures to show you BUT the retarded hosting site has crashed / won't let me upload any more pictures.

If you have any questions, please ask and I'll try and get a bit more specific.

The Next Big Project!

MaryAntoinette

Is this for sale?

hexosan

???? I'd imagine the shipping costs might be expensive

my3cents

hexosan wrote: »

???? I'd imagine the shipping costs might be expensive

But just think how many trolls could live in a place like that

MaryAntoinette

hexosan wrote: »

???? I'd imagine the shipping costs might be expensive

Uship will do it for €400.

Keplar240B

What region of USA is that?

Watch Ryder

MaryAntoinette wrote: »

Is this for sale?

LOL! I can put the word to Mountain Mike but I don't think in a million years he'd ever sell his mountain retreat. It's also over the Atlantic Ocean from fair green Eire too. Maybe a holiday home for you MA?

Anyway MM paid $8,500 back in the late 1980s and it's been valued at about $70,000 to $110,000 five years ago. Probably worth more now.

Watch Ryder

Keplar240B wrote: »

What region of USA is that?

The Rocky Mountains of Wyoming...

eeguy

Search Colin Furze on YouTube. He built a bunker in his back garden.

Watch Ryder

my3cents wrote: »

But just think how many trolls could live in a place like that

A fair number of leprechauns also I'd imagine. :cool:

Watch Ryder

eeguy wrote: »

Search Colin Furze on YouTube. He built a bunker in his back garden.

He did indeed, had a blank cheque from Sky 1 to lubricate the wheels of commerce though. The DIY bunkers cost nothing but nearby resources, your labor and concrete (although some folks just use earth instead!)

eeguy

Watch Ryder wrote: »

He did indeed, had a blank cheque from Sky 1 to lubricate the wheels of commerce though. The DIY bunkers cost nothing but nearby resources, your labor and concrete (although some folks just use earth instead!)

True, but it's a nice job and went together fairly quick.
Pit dug with a digger with welded steel shell surrounded by reinforced concrete.

Fair enough to those digging it by hand and cutting lumber, but it looks like a project where you spend more time than its worth.

theflipdave

A bunker would be great

Watch Ryder

eeguy wrote: »

True, but it's a nice job and went together fairly quick.
Pit dug with a digger with welded steel shell surrounded by reinforced concrete.

Fair enough to those digging it by hand and cutting lumber, but it looks like a project where you spend more time than its worth.

If you've got the spare time it's always worth it.