This article was originally published on Kueez
For awhile doomsday bunkers were something that people would laugh about. Things have started to seem a lot less funny though, especially once COVID-19 hit, and with people worried about everything from a global pandemic to nuclear war, a bunker was starting to seem like a pretty smart investment. For most of us, a bunker is little more than a cement room in the ground equipped with only the absolute necessities. But for the super-rich, their bunkers are more like a luxurious home to wait out the end of the world in while still managing to live in paradise. Try not to let your jaw hit the floor as you see just how lavish and extreme some of these ultra-expensive bunkers really are.
1. Welcome To The End Of The World
Vivos Europa One shelter is a bunker for millionaires where they can easily live for a year without ever leaving the place.
Dubbed as the world's ultimate doomsday escape, this is a bedroom in the shelter which shows how comfortable life would be in it.
2. A Lavish Dining Room
After an apocalypse, or pandemic like COVID-19, family traditions will likely be even more important to us than before. After all, you and your family will have to live together for quite some time.
So the dining rooms have beautiful wooden tables with comfy leather chairs. Doesn't look like any family get-together that we've ever been to.
3. The World Ending Is Stressful - So Take Some Time Off For A Swim
Vivos Europa One has this community swimming pool inside the complex, which is valued at an estimated $1.1million.
Could there be any better swimming pool on earth than this one? After all, you will be able to swim in a swimming pool that can withstand tsunamis, earthquakes, and pandemics.
4. Ultimate Safety
So this is a drive-thru-blast-proof door at the complex can withstand earthquakes, chemical agents, tsunamis, a nuclear blast, or any other disaster. It is most likely only available to the super-rich.
By the way, all shelter areas are hidden behind vehicle entrances that are radiation-proof. No wonder why people call it the ultimate doomsday hideaway.
5. Vivo Was Originally A Soviet Bunker System That Has Changed Over Time
Since the Cold War lasted for decades, it is no surprise that the Soviets built bunkers to protect themselves. Building underground bunkers became common at that time and even the leader of Albania (a country in the Balkans) forced his people to build tens of thousands of bunkers. It is estimated that they completed over 170,000 of these underground fortresses.
Even this luxury Vivos Europa One shelter was originally built in the Cold War by the Soviets because they needed a fortress for their military equipment. The engine room is fully sound-proof to ensure no one is disturbed by it.
6. An Unlikely Location
Located in the heart of Rothenstein, Germany, is this secure bunker that makes one wonder why they choose this location.
Given that the Soviets had already built it as a fortress during the Cold War, it has everything needed to become an ideal shelter for the rich people.
7. This Will Be Your New Home
The Soviets actually carved out the bedrock out from under this 400-foot mountain in the Cold War to use as a fortress for military equipment and munitions.
Now, it is fully capable of withstanding pretty much any disaster. This aerial image shows the survival bunker's boundary line, and isn’t it huge?
8. A Home Away From Home
In this photo, you can see how typical living quarters in the shelter would look. When you have to live in a shelter for many months, it is essential to the right environment otherwise you will start to get paranoid.
To counter it, it seems pretty clear that the creators have focused on indoor activities as well. They have tried their best to make you feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible.
9. Exclusive Access
There is a personnel entry door and each family will be provided with a private 2,500-square-foot apartment.
It is a competitive process to buy a Vivos shelter. It is because the buying process is based on a co-ownership model. You will have to become a Vivos member to become a co-owner of a shelter. Once you become a member, you will enter a giant pool of members in which a selected member will become the ‘best candidate’ for each shelter.
10. A Luxurious Bunker
As there is a private 2,500-square-foot apartment for each family, they can build and design it to their own specifications.
For instance, a family can add a theater, a pool, or a deluxe bathroom. Moreover, every family will have access to a bakery, a hospital, and several restaurants.
11. An Entertainment Room
Just imagine watching your favorite film in this private screening room. You won't have to leave the building to enjoy a movie with your family.
The theater room comes with reclining leather chairs, film posters on the walls, and an LED ceiling. It won't be wrong to say that it's not far off from being in a real cinema.
12. A Luxurious Little World
The modern finishing makes the entire bunker a luxurious little world. To ensure that the shelter keeps operating without any issue, families will have to pay a base sum for their apartment and share the cost of managing and staffing the complex.
The common area amenities for the families include a wine cellar, roadways, prayer rooms, classrooms, and a television station.
13. An Underground Bar
Have you ever visited an underground pub? Well, the bunker in Rothenstein boasts 227,904 square feet of blast-proof living areas and a pub for the people to enjoy and socialize with the other residents over a drink or two.
We think that an underground bunker would be incomplete without a bar. The rustic bar, curved ceiling, and wall mural aren't far off the real thing.
14. The Proud Founder Of All Of This
The founder of Vivos, Robert Vicino, takes pride in creating something so massive, "We are proud to bring this epic project forward in these increasingly dangerous times." he said.
Vicino explains the reason behind Vivos in an interview. He explained, "Do you really want to fight off all the zombies, the predators, the gangs, the militias, whatever else is roaming the streets to get what you got?"
15. Robust And Strong Exterior
We know for sure that the exterior entrances to the bunker are made from extremely strong and resilient materials.
It has been fully ensured that the bunker stays safe from all outside forces. The bunker will provide extreme protection no matter if there is a nuclear attack or a tsunami.
16. Vivos Transportation Services
So how are you planning on getting to a bunker? Well, you can arrive by car or private plane, but what if the disaster is already happening and the roads and airports are crowded or shut down? In case of a disaster, families will simply go to an airport and from there the Vivos helicopters will fly residents to the compound in complete secrecy.
To ensure that the residents arrive at the location on a quick notice, Vivos Europa One shelter has its own helicopter and railway service. Their service will pick up residents from nearby airports and bring them to a safe location.
17. Countless Tunnel Chambers
There are many tunnel chambers that lead to the bunker and each of them has its own security system and blast-proof doors.
Vivos has also used the most advanced security system for each tunnel chamber of the bunker.
18. Above-Ground Space
There is 43,906 square feet of above-ground space. The above-ground space cannot be used to enter the bunker.
To ensure maximum security and zero-chance of any breach, the only way in or out of the property is by helicopter (once the gates are fully closed).
19. State Of The Art Tech For Clean And Treated Water
For the water treatment plant, Vivos Europa One shelter uses state-of-the-art technology. The self-contained water and power generation system makes the shelter completely self-dependent.
Each living quarter will have power lines, HVAC systems, plumbing for clean drinking water and sewage, security systems, internet, and closed-circuit systems in the shelter.
20. Pretty Much Just Like Going On Vacation
Vivos provide a whole range of equipment and entertainment to its esteemed guests that range from theatres and gyms to fancy restaurants.
This is just one of the living quarters. The fit and finish of the chambers inside the shelter are similar to those of a mega-yacht, with chic designs and luxurious furnishings. So you can imagine that there’s not much chance of getting bored while in lockdown.
21. Relaxed Living
A brewery pub and wine cellar for all the residents to enjoy and other common areas for improved lifestyle include nursery playrooms, training rooms, restaurants, bakery, and roadways.
There are also pet kennels, a hair salon, a DNA storage bank, and even the hydroponic gardens. Moreover, there are chemical and biological filtration systems and battery backup power storage units.
22. Just Like Noah's Ark
There's no denying that the shelter has many cool catastrophe-proof features, but one thing that makes it unique is how it will attempt to re-populate the earth after the apocalypse.
From historical artifacts, animals, and seeds to human DNA, the bunker will keep everything protected.
23. Bast-Proof Doors
The first completed bunker of Vivos is situated in Indiana. But in this photo you can see Vivos's CEO standing on a blast-proof door at the new bunker in central Germany.
It is one of the many blast-proof doors that provide maximum security to the bunker.
24. Thick Steel for Better Protection
As blast-proof doors are essential components of any underground shelter, Vivos made sure to install the highest-quality blast-doors.
All the blast-proof doors installed provide impeccable protection from blasts, fire, radiation, and intruders.
25. Preparing for The Worse
Vivos' statement on preparing for the worse says it all about what the company wants to achieve: “We are clearly living in dangerous and changing times that the uninformed will never understand until the threats are evident. We cannot predict, but we can prepare.”
It is no surprise that the company is hell-bent on making sure that they provide the best security and facilities to its members.
26. Hospital Area
If anything goes wrong, there is no need to worry. To handle any case of a medical emergency, Europe One is already equipped with medical facilities.
"We don't know when 'the accident' is going to happen. For those who haven't secured a solution yet, it's already too late," Vicino said in an interview.
27. Fully Stocked Shelter
The shelter is fully stocked with food and other necessary resources. According to Vivos, the shelter can operate autonomously for six months to one year.
According to the CEO of Vivos, he got inspiration from a powerful message in the 1980s to build a survival shelter for thousands. When asked, he did not know where the message had come from.
28. Safety Comes First
The entry corridor inside the shelter already has protective gear for the residents. It shows how much Vivos has invested in designing and planning to make the shelter safe and secure for the residents.
According to Vivos, they are aiming to accommodate about 6,000 people in its bunkers. However, they will do a thorough screening of each family before approving or rejecting them.
29. Glamorous Passageways
Once you get inside the shelter, you will find glamorous passageways that can keep that end-of-the-world edginess. The sophisticated corridors do create a stunning environment.
We can confidently say that it is an entrance similar to the ones you see in sci-fi movies.
30. 3D View of the Shelter
This 3D view of the shelter within mountains shows why it is worth $1 billion. It is truly something impressive and inspiring.
It contains approximately 60,000 square feet of blast-proof living areas and an additional 13,382 square feet of above-ground apartments, offices, warehouse buildings, and a personal train depot that are only accessible to members. Now let's take a look at Survival Condo Project in Kansas that was built for about $20 million.
31. No Ordinary Survival Condo Development
An entrepreneur engineer and software developer, Larry Hall, purchased a retired missile silo in 2008 for $300,000 and spent $20 million to convert it into the ultimate fortified shelter for people who want to survive the end of the world.
The shelter has the ability to withstand catastrophic events from nuclear war to viral epidemics. No wonder why the rich started to show increased interest in it during the current pandemic.
32. Built for a Specific Purpose
This extravagant doomsday shelter sits inside a missile silo that was specifically built during the Cold War.
The missile silo was used to contain nuclear warhead from 1961 to 1965. So, it is more than capable of withstanding even a direct nuclear blast.
33. Learning From The 9/11 Attacks
Larry Hall used to develop networks and data centers for government contractors and had no such plans to make a doomsday shelter. However, the attacks of 9/11 made him realize that it was imperative to convert the missile silo into a shelter.
His idea made sense at that time because the federal government also started to reinvest a lot into catastrophe planning.
34. Making A Purchase Decision
"I was aware of the availability [of the site] from working on government contracts," Hall told in an interview in 2017.
In 2008, he purchased the silo for $300,000 and started to work on its development.
35. An Undisclosed Location
To ensure the shelter’s safety before and after any disaster or nuclear attack, they have kept the exact location a secret.
When asked, Hall only told that there is a shelter that is situated north of Wichita, Kansas and it is surrounded by farmland and rolling hills.
36. Expensive Constructions Costs
This is a library for the residents. It is evident that developing a doomsday shelter cannot be cheap, but Hall wanted it to be super comfortable for the residents.
So, a total of $20 million was spent on the construction. It now has 15 floors, which are divided into 12 single-family homes.
37. Comfortable Living
You can say that the quarters are spacious enough to accommodate six to ten people.
A full-floor unit is about 1,820 square feet, which is over a third of a basketball court.
38. Full-Floor Apartments for Bigger Families
The full-floor apartment includes three bedrooms, a dining room, a kitchen, and a living room.
To make sure that the whole family easily fits inside the apartment, there are bunk beds that are for the kids.
39. Live View From Inside of The Apartment
As tenants won't have to go outside, there are LED screens fitted to the windows that show a live video of everything that is happening outside.
Moreover, everything is made fairly easier for the tenants. Each home also has a washer, dishwasher, and dryer.
40. Safety Over Price
If you want a full-floor unit, you will have to pay around $2.4 million and a half-floor unit is about half the price.
As of 2020, several fully-furnished units are available for sale. So, if you want one then you can consider checking their website.
41. Increase In Demand
In an interview, Hall told that the people start to show increased interest in the shelter as soon as North Korea conducts a nuclear test or even when some significant global event occurs.
No wonder why so many interested buyers contacted Hall during this COVID-19 pandemic.
42. Highly Trained Security Team
The Survival Condo Project is offering more than just a place you can call home. By buying an apartment, you will have to get mandatory survival training along with a five-year food supply (per person) and internet access.
They also offer 24-hour security as the Survival Condo sits behind a barbed-wire fence and guarded by highly trained security at any given time.
43. Self-Sustainable Bunker
The bunker cannot store food for many years to come. So, the bunker needs to supply food to the tenants and there are many ways to do it.
For instance, they are raising tilapia in fish tanks and growing vegetables under lamps. Their hydroponic and aquaponic systems (raising aquatic animals such as snails, fish, crayfish, or prawns in tanks) are currently active.
44. A Mini Grocery Store and General Store
As the residents will miss the food that they used to eat outside, the Survival Condo's mini grocery store and general store includes everything from shelf-stable scrambled eggs to freeze-dried blackberries.
The best part of the food there is that everything is rated to last at least 35 years.
45. Emergency Medical Facilities
If someone feels unwell or experiences any health complication, there is the medical bay for emergency cases.
Moreover, a registered pharmacy is there and can hold up to seven years worth of medication for each tenant.
46. Classroom for Kids
The Survival Condo has done almost everything to provide a relaxing environment so that residents don't feel bored inside the bunker.
They have even set up a classroom for the kids so that they keep on learning. With education being offered even in such challenging times, our future will remain bright.
47. An Underground Paradise
One of the most appealing parts of the Survival Condo is its full-sized swimming pool that stretches 75 feet. The pool features a system that automatically sterilizes and refills the water.
As if these features weren't enough, there is a water slide to make the experience more fun.
48. An Indoor Gym To Stay Fit
Living in a bunker can limit your physical activity and cause weight gain and health issues.
To prevent the tenants from start gaining weight and becoming lazy, there is a gym for everyone. The residents can burn calories at a gym and maintain good health.
49. Rock Climbing Wall
As it is extremely important to burn calories while staying in a bunker, they have tried to make sure the residents take part in healthy activities.
No doomsday bunker is complete without an activity that is fun and can help burn calories. So, there is also a rock-climbing wall present in the bunker.
50. A Pet Park
In case of a pandemic or nuclear attack, you won't leave your beloved pet and go to a safe place, right?
So, the bunker also has a pet park for your lovely pets. You can take your pet for a walk in the park whenever you like it.
51. There's a Gun Room
The Survival Condo does provide security to the residents, but they also want them to learn how to defend themselves.
There is an armory equipped with guns and ammo. So, the residents will have to get training on how to defend themselves against intruders. There is also an indoor shooting range for practice.
52. A High-Speed Elevator
There is a high-speed elevator with a light-up map of the Condo's layout that is spread across 15 floors and extends about 200 feet underground.
At the top, there is a pet park, arcade, swimming pool, and climbing wall. Underneath are the medical bay, mechanical level, food stores, and then the seven floors of luxury living quarters. At the bottom, four floors have a classroom, a library, a bar, a cinema, and a gym.
53. Crisis Management
In the event of a crisis, the adults cannot leave the property unless they get permission from the Survival Condo Project's board of directors.
If there is fire in the bunker, the smoke control system will start to monitor every level of the Survival Condo. If the system notices that there is fire, then the security will isolate the problem and recirculate harmful air out of the building.
54. SWAT Team-Style Pick-Up Service
In the event of nuclear warfare, Armageddon, or a viral epidemic, special SWAT-team-style trucks will be dispatched to pick up residents within a four-hundred-mile radius of the bunker.
That's why they advise all residents to start moving their homes close to the bunker in case of any catastrophic event.
55. Always Alert And Ready
Hall came up with this idea because he wanted to have a place that could protect in case of a nuclear blast or viral epidemic. He knows that many people out there have the resources to buy an apartment in his bunker.
He said, "Ever-increasing threats to society, both natural and manmade keep me up at night."