The demand for doomsday bunkers in the United States has seen a surge, driven by growing concerns over political instability and potential civil unrest.
According to reports, this trend is particularly evident among Americans who fear a possible civil war, leading them to seek shelter solutions that combine safety with luxury.
Ron Hubbard, the owner of Atlas Survival Shelters, a prominent Texas-based bunker manufacturing company, has observed this shift in public sentiment firsthand.
In an interview with Fox News, Hubbard revealed that “almost half of Americans think the U.S. could see a civil war.” This belief has significantly impacted his business, with an increasing number of clients seeking high-end survival bunkers that provide both protection and comfort.
Hubbard emphasized that his clients were not just looking for basic shelters; they wanted luxurious bomb shelters that resemble homes. “The interiors of my bunkers look like houses,” Hubbard stated, noting that this preference for comfort was a key factor driving sales.
His company offers a wide range of shelters, from $20,000 models to those exceeding a million dollars. On average, most of his clients spend around half a million dollars on these turnkey bunkers, which typically feature about nine rooms.
Notable clients include reality TV stars Kim and Khloé Kardashian, as well as YouTube sensation Mr. Beast.
The company’s explanation for the increased demand for doomsday bunkers is backed by a Marist National Poll from May, which revealed that 13% of Americans think a civil war was “very likely,” and another 34% believe it was “likely.”
Atlas Survival Shelters specializes in manufacturing shelters designed to withstand a wide range of threats, including electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attacks, biological warfare, and malicious mobs.
The company’s clients are not limited to the United States; it also serves international customers, with the Middle East emerging as a particularly active market.
Ron Hubbard revealed that countries like the United Arab Emirates were adopting practices from Israel, where residents often convert a small room in their high-rise apartments into a fortified space equipped with advanced air filtration systems to guard against nuclear and biological threats.
Hubbard has been advocating for American builders to adopt similar standards, suggesting that a single room in a house be turned into a “hardened room” to protect against gunfire, natural disasters, and civil unrest.
The report said that his pitch resonated with high-end clients who are not interested in mere survival but seek to maintain their lifestyle even in a crisis.
Europe Also Witnessing Increase In Bunker Demand
Europe is also experiencing an increase in people investing in doomsday bunkers, mirroring the trend seen in the United States.
In response to this growing demand, Atlas Survival Shelters has expanded its operations beyond its Dallas-based factory and established a manufacturing facility in Poland to cater to its European clientele.
In March 2022, shortly after the onset of the war, Gary Lynch, the general manager of Texas-based Rising S Company, reported a staggering 1,000 percent increase in demand for his company’s survival shelters. This surge occurred almost immediately following the Russian invasion.
The company has received inquiries from various countries, including Denmark, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Many of these customers are concerned that the conflict in Ukraine could escalate and spill over into neighboring regions, potentially involving more nations and escalating into a full-scale global war.
However, Lynch noted that not all customers were making rational decisions; some were panic-buying due to the uncertainty.
Meanwhile, the Russia-Ukraine conflict isn’t the sole factor driving interest in bunkers. In April 2024, Swiss-based luxury bunker developer Oppidum Bunkers reported a steady increase in inquiries over recent months.
Interestingly, their customers are often more influenced by pop culture than geopolitical events, citing inspirations such as photos of Mark Zuckerberg’s Hawaiian bunker and the Netflix movie “Leave the World Behind.”
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