The real estate market in the UK is volatile at best and it isn't easy to find an exciting listing for £25,000 ($32k). Yet this former Royal Air Force monitoring post in the village of Barnham Broom, Norfolk, is up for grabs for just that sum, offering bags of space, history and potential.
Listed with Arnolds Keys, the Cold War bunker is buried beneath an unassuming field and from above, passers-by wouldn't even look twice – making it perfect for those seeking a clandestine crib to call home.
According to the listing, the abandoned bunker was used by the Royal Observer Corps, whose job it was to detect, identify, track and report any unscheduled aircraft flying over Great Britain. They operated between 1925 and the end of 1995 and utilised this Norfolk post between 1962 and 1991, during the post-war tensions between the USA and the Soviet Union.
The affordable bunker consists of a metal raised manhole lid, which gives access to a metal staircase. Head down and you'll find two underground rooms that are waiting to be put to use. One of the rooms currently features a small bathroom, while the other is larger but still only measures 115 square feet. It could be utilised as a living room, with a kitchenette and pull-down Murphy bed. Of course, the interior is in need of a complete renovation, so the buyer will need deep pockets and a lot of imagination.
Outside, there's a small garden of about 3,746 square feet and at the moment, the property doesn’t have access to any services, so the buyer will need to organise local water, sewage and electricity connections – a task that could prove to be a little challenging. To add to the complications, potential buyers can’t step inside the bunker. In fact, only once the sale has been completed will the lucky new owner be able to look around. Are you brave enough to take on the place blind?
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From former Cold War bases to impressive custom creations, there's a whole host of abandoned fortified shelters for sale, just waiting to be converted into high-end hideouts. Whether you’re a survivalist, a die-hard military enthusiast or a house-hunter in search of a unique fixer-upper project, click or scroll on to browse the best deserted bunkers on the market right now...
On the market for a mere £53,900 ($69k), this 1.2-acre lot in Nye County, Nevada, is definitely a work in progress, but it's one that you could put your own stamp on. Let's take a closer look...
The current owner has started creating a solid block wall around the perimeter of the property, designed to provide extra protection for the underground bunker in the heart of the estate. The structure is incomplete, so the buyer could either finish the job or choose to remove the walls.
Before we step inside the bunker itself, it’s also worth noting that the property already comes with a private well and septic system that were installed in 2007. There’s also 200 amp power, meaning you’ll always have access to fresh water and electricity, even in the event of a nuclear disaster.
The unfinished bomb shelter is formed from multiple 40-foot cargo containers, that are double-stacked and buried below ground. Designed to stay nice and cool, no matter what the weather is doing outside, it benefits from numerous bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, an office and a bathroom. Design-wise, the interior spaces are ready to be decorated as you see fit and could certainly do with a modern makeover.
For your money, you’ll also gain a small cabin and a single-wide trailer, which could be converted into a holiday home or utilised in some other way. According to the listing, it's 'sold as-is, where-is' and the unfinished project is waiting for a 'special buyer' – could that be you?
Positioned in West Virginia, this remarkable underground bunker was originally purchased in 2014 from Spartan Survival Systems for around £58,600 ($75k), and set into the ground the following year. A prepper’s paradise, the original specifications state the bunker is "made to withstand tremendous amounts of force and pressure from large bomb blast waves".
The 40-foot long, 10-foot wide bunker is constructed from corrugated steel and is sited on a shale bed to prevent the structure from flooding. The ultimate property for a survivalist looking to hunker down, the bunker could be yours for just shy of £57,000 ($73k).
The shelter comes with a state-of-the-art air filtration system to purify the air should the worst occur. When it comes to accommodation, there are four bunks that can sleep a total of eight people, with built-in storage under each unit.
What's more, there's an aquaponics area with some equipment, which could allow the new owner to grow their own food without needing to surface. The food storage area leads into the kitchen, while at the far end of the shelter, you’ll find the all-important escape hatch plus the electrical crank, which can be hooked up to a bicycle so you can produce electricity while you exercise.
There's some work to be done to complete the shelter, such as installing the wind turbine for additional electricity, plus the entrance hatch needs to be welded on before the shelter can be fully submerged beneath the earth. The estimated cost for all work needed comes to around £11,700 ($15k). Not bad for a decade of nuclear fallout protection.
If you'd rather live in California, then why not bag yourself a custom bunker in the desert? Positioned in Landers, in the High Desert region of the Mojave Desert, the abandoned bunker is budget-friendly and provides plenty of bang for your buck.
The desert retreat sprawls 10 acres and is something of a blank canvas, ready for a new owner to perfect. In the heart of the site, you’ll find the underground bunker. According to the listing, it’s currently unpermitted, which means the new owner will likely need to obtain the necessary permits from the relevant local authority before they can set about turning it into a survivalist hideout.
When the bunker's concealed, ground-level hatch door is closed, you can hardly see it. But once open, a step ladder appears, leading any brave explorers inside...
Once below ground, you'll find a single room, with exposed concrete walls and a relatively generous ceiling. Constructed from cement blocks, the spartan space may be minimalist but it's nice and secure. From the looks of things, someone has been sleeping in the bunker, but we’re not sure how comfortable that would be, given its current bare state.
The listing suggests the space could be used for storing items or equipment out of the desert heat, but it could easily be converted into a panic room, should the apocalypse come. What’s more, with all that above-ground land to play with, not to mention dreamy scenery for miles around, the new owner could even opt to build a luxurious desert house on top of the bunker – the perfect venue to listen to the coyotes sing at night or perhaps spot one of the UFOs locals report are common here.
If you have a bigger budget to play with, then you could get your hands on an ultra-private and secure compound in rural Prescott, Arizona. Listed with The Brokery for £491,700 ($629k), the near 10-acre estate is brimming with opportunities.
For starters, the gated property is surrounded by peaks and troughs, thanks to its position close to Granite Mountain, Williamson Valley and Prescott National Forest – so, if you’re seeking a place that will allow you to switch off from the digital world and immerse yourself in nature, this listing is for you. For your money, you'll gain this concrete structure, which is waiting to be transformed into a home.
The property also benefits from a small, underground well-house bunker, situated behind a secure steel trap door. It might be super compact, but the space could easily be utilised as a hideout, should the worst happen. Otherwise, the fenced property is just 20 minutes from local stores.
Head down the ladder and you'll find yourself in a light-filled and small storage room. But remove the shelving and belongings, and you should have enough space to install some bunk beds, a small kitchenette and a bathroom of some kind.
The estate also comes complete with a well drilled over 700 feet below the surface and a septic system, both of which are capable of supporting more than one residence. A 2,200-square-foot heated concrete slab has also been poured with radiant pipes and plumbing. There’s even APS electricity, working solar panels, propane tanks and a 40-foot shipping container that could be converted into an amazing home.
Over in Gardner, Colorado, you'll find a reinforced steel bunker, enclosed by more than 40 acres of stunning land, complete with natural streams, rolling fields and woodlands. The bunker itself was finished in 2020, perhaps in response to the global pandemic, and has been designed to protect the residents from all manner of things.
The custom safety shelter can be accessed via a concrete door and deep below the ground lies the 960-square-foot interior. There’s a kitchen, a living area, a bathroom, three bedrooms and a water room, which is there for storage purposes.
Design-wise, there's nothing too exciting about the bunker. But its white-washed walls and basic furnishings could easily be transformed with a lick of paint and a shopping trip. There are no windows inside, but the interior is nice and light, and benefits from a system that provides the inside with fresh air. Blast doors will keep out any intruders, while the escape hatch is perfect for making a speedy exit.
There's even a shipping container, which could be converted into a cool tiny house, or anything else the new owner might like. The listing also includes a septic system and a permitted water well, which lies in a large meadow.
What's more, the 40-acre estate enjoys spectacular views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. All this could be yours for £527,700 ($675k). If you're interested, then Survival Realty has all the information you need.
If you're seeking something a little different, then how about this nuclear blast-proof bunker home? The custom-built property finds itself wedged into the ground, with the living spaces constructed into the earth. Located in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, the house was finished in 1999 but was truly ahead of its time.
The current owners are said to have put their blood, sweat and millions of dollars into creating this brutalist home. The 11,000-square-foot property is completely enclosed and protected by 12 inches of concrete and there are no windows, making access extremely difficult – except for the owner.
The property was built to withstand zombie attacks and nuclear blasts, and can be finished to be a fully self-sustainable environment. Inside, it has 50-foot ceilings, three large openings in the roof and a safe room. Currently, it has an all-concrete aesthetic, but that could easily be changed.
There's plenty of room down in the bunker, with enough space for an open-plan living room, kitchen, dining space, multiple bedrooms and bathrooms. Currently, the structure is set up with four bedrooms and five bathrooms, so could accommodate dozens of people. Plus, septic tanks and propane are all ready to go, which should make the renovation process a little easier.
The unique bunker home also benefits from the truly spectacular surrounding scenery, with the Piedra River Valley, Pagosa Peak and Weminuche Wilderness right outside. Just imagine waking up here every day and being able to enjoy the walking trails, mountains and other natural wonders of this part of Colorado. Amazing Earthship, survival compound or luxury mansion? The choice really is yours. If you fancy taking the property on, it's for sale via RE/MAX for £703,700 ($900k).
Described by the listing as “truly the safest 'bunker' on the planet”, this subterranean space is hiding nearly 200 feet underground, on a fenced and gated nine-acre plot, in an undisclosed area of central Kansas, USA. Known as the Rolling Hills Missile Silo, it was originally constructed in the 1960s to withstand “a nuclear blast or comparable natural disaster” and cost over £118 million ($150m) to build, in today's money. One of several ATLAS missile silos built by the US Government during the Cold War, the prepper’s dream home recently hit the market for £1 million ($1.3m).
Utilising highly advanced technology, these government bunkers were constructed by engineering scientists to survive a nuclear attack, catastrophic storms and more. This one was built with nine-foot thick reinforced concrete, measures 52 feet in diameter and is 182 feet deep. A whopping 600 tons of steel rebar was used alongside the concrete, though all that is visible from ground level is a secure, 7,000 lb steel blast door...
Once safely inside, stairs descend over 180 feet underground across multiple levels – with surprisingly generous living space across each one. Now, after months of "hard labour", the former control centre has been fully restored and freshly painted ready to house a lucky new resident. A 40-foot tunnel leads from the control centre to the missile silo and described as ‘turn-key’ by the listing, the property is large enough to accommodate an 18-storey building inside. Impressive!
The brilliant bunker comes with a list of potential uses – from a two-storey safe house beneath a private home you could build above, to a training camp base and target range. There’s plenty of space for a large solar field and the ideal conditions for wind turbine installation, too. The property also includes some vital utilities: there are two septic tanks onsite, while county water is found at the driveway entrance and power is a quarter of a mile away. A generator is currently used to operate lights and it is said to be easy to connect solar or wind power.
It's suggested that the epic 18-storey silo itself could be converted into a multi-level underground residence or corporate headquarters. As each level stretches out across 2,000 square feet, you could even decide to sell them as individual apartments – ideal for doomsday preppers and solitary property hunters alike. The 52-foot concrete silo cover could also be used as a helipad, conveniently placed for easy access. The listing even suggests converting the silo into a survivor-themed hotel.
In the period leading up to the Second World War, Mediterranean islands such as Mallorca – part of Spain’s Balearic archipelago – had to prepare for the possibility of sieges by Germany due to their prime geographic location as a pitstop between mainland Europe and Africa.
Built in 1935, this deserted military barracks is located right on the coast of Llucmajor – one of the southernmost municipalities on the island. It is now being sold as a stunning estate and is on the market for a cool €3.8 million, which is around £3.3 million ($4.2m).
The plot sits on a whopping 20.7 acres of land and is currently overgrown with shrubbery in its craggy location. Yet the constant sunshine and sweeping sea views really do make it a tropical paradise. Plus, the subzero corridor system will intrigue any history buff, conservationist or survivalist.
There are several structures within the estate, including the old military base and all its associated buildings, a residence and an underground bunker with an intricate layout of galleries, rooms and tunnels.
According to the listing, the military barracks come kitted out with eight bedrooms, two bathrooms and a total of 5,758 square feet of inside space. Most of the property is in need of serious renovation, so the new owner will need to be willing to take on an extreme fixer-upper. Are you up to the task?
If you've ever wanted to get your hands on a unique property that boasts plenty of space, history and character, then this abandoned air force base in Gettysburg, South Dakota, could be for you. The sprawling former military site has outbuildings, land and secret features galore, all for a hefty £3.5 million ($4.5m).
Before it was abandoned, the property was Gettysburg Air Force Station. It became operational in July 1956 and the workers' mission was not only to track and identify aircraft entering the surrounding air space, but to guide Air Force interceptors to any identified enemy aircraft. The base played a key role during the Cold War too and was just one of 28 sites selected for radar surveillance. Initially, the crew consisted of 25 airmen, three officers and three civilians, according to FortWiki.
After the Cold War, there was little use for the base and it was deactivated in June 1968. Around an acre of land was retained by the government and the rest was left to fall into a state of decay. In 2007 it was snapped up by current owner Lev Goukassian, a retired businessman from California.
Spanning 42 acres, the property is surrounded by farmland, making it ideal for a buyer looking for a remote, disaster-proof retreat. As well as endless land, the listing also includes countless outbuildings, such as the former barracks, an operations centre and a mess hall. There are various old vehicles and discarded military memorabilia strewn around the site, too. Yet the property's most mysterious and enticing feature has to be its secret underground bunker.
The only sign that the subterranean space exists is this heavy, steel trap door that's pretty well concealed. Beneath the impenetrable opening, you'll find a seemingly never-ending secret tunnel, which connects the base's many buildings. Military personnel likely used the passageway to move between locations without being seen – or to transport equipment in poor weather. If you're keen to take on this unique piece of military history, then you can contact the current owner directly via Facebook Marketplace.
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