Tate Deloitte for Dailymail.com
Release time: March 31, 2020 11:54 ET | Update time: March 31, 2020 12:43 ET
Drew Miller is ready for the end of the world.
A former Air Force intelligence officer with a PhD. Operations Research from Harvard is the founder of Fortitude Ranch; one of more and more heavily armed compounds preparing for the end of the world.
Somewhere in the mountains of southern Colorado (Miller requested the exact location to be kept secret) there is a facility with all the facilities a person might need in order to survive the pandemic, nuclear attack, and democratic collapse. At first glance, the vast expanse of 50 acres may look like any other Colorado ranch resort, but prisons like guard towers and intimidating barbed wire tell you that this is no ordinary resort.
The underground bunker was built to withstand nuclear attacks, eight inches of reinforced concrete, steel plates, and three feet of earth above the head. Steven Rene is a former army chemical and biological officer who lived in Belarus for 15 years and provided humanitarian assistance to Chernobyl victims in 1986
Fortitude Ranch’s food stocks include homemade preserves and kimchi, as well as cafeteria-sized canned beans and buckets of emergency rations. These properties have a small greenhouse with genetically modified seeds that can withstand a long shelf life
Fortitude Ranch members pose in the guard tower to monitor property in the event of an attack. Fortitude Ranch was selected for strategic reasons, away from external threats, but close to natural resources for fishing, hunting and logging
Dr. Drew Miller is a former Air Force intelligence officer. He is the founder of Fortitude Ranch, an affordable self-sustaining community designed to resist the potential collapse of democracy and law. There are currently two locations, and more locations. Miller (above) poses with his gun at the Fortitude Ranch facility in a secret location in the mountains of southern Colorado
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Drew Miller and his growing army of preparers are neither tinfoil hat conspiracy theorists nor a Silicon Valley prototype with a $8 million bunker. On the contrary, Fortitude Ranch aims to attract the middle-class market through bare metal operations to ensure survival in the event of a crisis.
Miller told DailyMail.com: "We established Fortitude Ranch to provide people with a safe and affordable place to survive hard times and good times-a place where they can come to vacation."
Dr. Drew Miller has been a preparer for as long as he can remember, but he told DailyMail.com when he realized that preparing alone was "not feasible" seven years ago. 'On the one hand, it's too expensive; but more importantly-it's just not safe.
The economics of doomsday preparations have proven to be very expensive. Costco recently started selling a set of prefab kits worth US$6,000, which can feed a family of four for a whole year, although the price of companies such as Rising S may soar to millions of US dollars. Rich man offers luxurious fortified residences.
Miller believes that a professionally operated survival community is needed, not just based on volunteers, and hopes that people will unite to do the right thing in a crisis.
"When they are at the volunteer base, the survival community tends to fall apart," he said. "I think as an officer, you know threats, and you know how people react when things go bad, and even good people react badly when they are stressed."
For Miller, the worst situation during the end of the world is when desperate, hungry people "rob, rob, steal food, and in some cases even kill." He added: "It is not a good idea to not have a large number of guns, guards and ammunition preparers."
"It's not a good idea to not have a large number of guns, guards and ammunition preparers," Miller said. In total anarchy, “you absolutely need to have a military rifle with a clip that can shoot a lot of bullets at once, in case you have a group of predators that can overtake you,” Miller explained
The picture shows a guard tower in the 100-acre Fortitude Ranch facility in West Virginia, which is located in an undisclosed location just two hours away from Washington, DC. Fortitude Ranch is also used as a leisure resort all year round for members to enjoy free outdoor activities for 10 days/year
Unlike most prep kits and shelters that can cost millions of dollars, Fortitude Ranch's "Spartan" package guarantees a bed and personal lockers in the shared shelter room for approximately $1,000 per year
The above are considered "intermediate lodgings" at Fortitude Ranch in the mountains of West Virginia, and its various shelters can accommodate up to 500 people. Fortitude Ranch also provides arrangements for families and couples, and allows pets to join
Both locations in Fortitude Ranch have stocks of food, masks, toilet paper, cleaning products, medicines, guns and ammunition, but have long relied on fruit trees, livestock, hunting and fishing. Fortitude Ranch, once mocked for hoarding supplies, saw a surge in business during the coronavirus crisis
Staff such as Steven Rene, a ranch manager at the West Virginia plant, are constantly monitoring potential threats that could trigger catastrophic events, such as pandemics, nuclear attacks, power grid collapse, or the elimination of food supplies of biological weapons. And various natural disasters, such as Huangshi volcanic eruption, tsunami or earthquake
When asked about the potential safety issues faced by DIY preparers in a crisis at home, his experience as an Air Force intelligence officer for more than 40 years immediately became apparent. "You really need to have enough guards on duty at night, so it's impossible for a group of looters to shoot your guards and break in at once."
"If you only have two or three guards on duty, you may only need three gunmen to take you away." He continued, "especially if they are skilled, smart, and at the same time when everyone else is sleeping. Finish all the work."
Security is just one of the complex logistics issues that Fortitude Ranch has solved. They also regularly track various lists of deadly threats, which they call "triggering events"-they use this term to define potentially catastrophic events that could trigger a complete breakdown of democracy and law and order.
The impending danger index covers the entire range from the accidental release of viruses to biological warfare attacks, nuclear wars and pandemics. But it also includes: climate change, major earthquakes, the Yellowstone volcanic eruption, North Korean electromagnetic pulse attacks, earth-shattering meteor showers, the collapse of the national power grid, rampant artificial intelligence, tsunamis, uncontrollable self-replicating nanotechnology, and the recent 2020 election.
"We increased the election because it might be too bad, you know, Trump supporters, if the election is controversial, they might say'No, we don't accept'." This is just a guess," Miller Speak to DailyMail.com.
Although the probability of any one of these events is still low, Miller said that when you add up all 46 different triggers, it is "not trivial." "There is a reasonable probability, one to two percent--perhaps more that we might collapse."
To raise funds to expand to new locations in Nevada and Wisconsin, Fortitude Ranch created a cryptocurrency in 2018 at a price of $100 each. Fortitude Tokens allows a person to book future locations at Fortitude Ranch at a locked price, and preferentially join cash-paying members. Miller said: "When there is a crisis, this is a big advantage. We have a waiting list that hundreds of thousands of people want to join." These tokens are currently trading at $160.
Miller is standing in the kitchen of the Colorado factory next to the wood stove, which is the main source of heat and energy, supplemented by solar panels and propane generators.
Miller said the 50-acre Fortitude Ranch facility in southern Colorado is “a bit like being in a country club.” Because Fortitude Ranch also provides free recreational resorts for its members, Miller said that the best result is that disasters will never happen, "but at least you still have a cheaper option than renting a cabin in Colorado or West Virginia. vacation spot'
Location photos taken at Fortitude Ranch survival camp in December 2019 revealed another guard tower. The location of each camp was chosen for strategic reasons: "We are usually located in forests and mountains as much as possible-very remote areas where we can get firewood, we can hunt and have the key supplies we need"
"I'm not afraid, I know threats like pandemics," Drew Miller replied when asked what scared him the most. He believes that COVID-19 is just a preview of the more deadly bird flu. In the event of a severe pandemic, Fortitude Ranch is ready to treat infected members and disperse people. All "Spartan" bunkers are equipped with multiple air supplies. "When most people think of survival facilities, they think of everyone in an underground shelter sharing the same air passage. We don't do this. We never No. We have always refused to do this because we want to prepare for the pandemic"
The purpose of Fortitude Ranch is not to create fear, but to prove inner peace. For some life-time preparers, joining is a breeze. Miller and his partners have completed all the difficult plans that require the long-term survival of the community.
They stocked up food, masks, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, antibiotics, guns and ammunition. They have fruit trees and livestock, which can provide long-term nutritional options. These camps are strategically placed in remote areas near the water for fishing, and in densely forested areas that provide firewood and hunting grounds (elk in West Virginia, deer and turkey in Colorado).
The underground bunker was built to withstand nuclear attacks, eight inches of reinforced concrete, steel plates, and three feet of earth above the head. The common area is equipped with a kitchen, books and board games for entertainment.
In the event of social collapse, the front door of Fortitude Ranch will be blocked and only members with a password can enter. During the pandemic, a different set of protocols has been developed for disease screening when members enter the country.
Whether it is guard duty, collecting firewood, cooking or doing housework, each member should contribute to the common survival of the community. The staff at Fortitude Ranch (mainly composed of former military and law enforcement personnel) are responsible for making major decisions and assigning tasks.
"But no one can be selected outside the island," Miller promised. "This is a business, and we assure everyone who takes care of you that we will."
Approximately $1,000 per year will guarantee you a place in the entry-level "Spartan" membership package, which includes a personal locker in a shared room full of bunk beds. Although the original lodging facilities are conducive to the "Spartan" name, they are not just about responding to this situation in times of crisis.
Steven Rene is a former army chemical and biological officer who has lived in Belarus for 15 years and provided humanitarian assistance to Chernobyl victims in 1986. He told DailyMail.com that Fortitude Ranch is "a real life insurance policy, which is different from most people’s life insurance — it actually only pays for the cost of burying you — it’s actually a life insurance policy that protects your life. "
Fortitude Ranch offers three different membership packages: Spartan, Economy and Luxury. Drew Miller showed an "economical" room with private space and indoor storage space
All bathroom facilities in Fortitude Ranch are shared, but different premiums can provide more personal space in the living area, such as the "Spartan" room with a small desk and storage area (left)
Steve Rene poses in front of chopped firewood, which is the main source of energy for "off-grid" crisis situations. All locations at Fortitude Ranch have been carefully selected to ensure that there are enough natural resources to sustain life after the collapse. West Virginia facilities are opposite to the 1,800-acre George Washington National Forest
Dr. Drew Miller sits in the public living space of the Fortitude Ranch Colorado factory. He accused TV shows like National Geographic's Doomsday Preparers for causing negative stigma in the preparer community
Miller said: "We use the country club membership model, so you need to pay a lot of fees in advance, and then the quarterly membership fees for multi-year membership and annual food replenishment fees." "The biggest payment is the initial fee to join, but the number of years you have registered. The more, the less the annual cost."
For premium prices, potential members can also choose to stay in more luxurious accommodations, but they are a far cry from the luxurious underground mansions built for tech giants with 50,000 gallon swimming pools, bowling alleys, cinemas and fully equipped hospitals.
Fortitude Ranch is a different product. "It's actually a life insurance policy, which is different from the life insurance that most people buy-it actually only pays for the cost of burying you-it's actually a life insurance policy. Single, you can protect your life," said manager Steven Rene. At the West Virginia plant in Fortitude Ranch.
The 100-acre West Virginia facility located just two hours east of Washington, D.C. has aroused great interest during the coronavirus pandemic: "We have seen that the number of inquiries may increase tenfold, and the number of members has also increased significantly." Colorado The state is sold out, but we still have some places here," Rene told DailyMail.com.
Now Miller and his partners who invested in Fortitude Ranch are scrambling to raise funds to meet expansion needs, and initially plan to expand to Nevada and Wisconsin in the next step.
What makes Fortitude Ranch unique is that it can be used as a leisure resort all year round. All members are welcome to stay at the facility for up to 10 days a year while enjoying the local outdoor activities: hunting, hiking, fishing and disc golf. 'In the worst case (or best case) you join the Tenacity Ranch, and disaster will never happen. At least you still have a great place to vacation, which is cheaper than renting a cabin in Colorado or West Virginia," Miller said.
"Our motto is to prepare for the worst and enjoy the present," Rene said. "It's not like we wake up every day thinking that the world is about to end."
The motto of Fortitude Ranch is "Be prepared for the worst and enjoy the present". Miller explained that the worst-case scenario could lead to desperate, hungry people "robbing, robbing, stealing food, and in some cases even killing people."
Dairy goats, free-range chickens and cattle are some important livestock that will enable the Fortitude Ranch survival community to sustain life for a long time in the event of a "collapse", which Miller defined as "the economic failure and complete loss of law and order"
In the event of a crisis or pandemic, the main entrance of Fortitude Ranch (the West Virginia facility above) will be closed to the public and strictly guarded; members can only use challenging passwords to enter. In the case of a pandemic, there are different sending agreements, and members will be tested and quarantined before being allowed to join the main community
Fortitude Ranch keeps increasing their inventory. Rene said: "What you can't really foresee is that you need to be prepared to a certain extent." "Take 9/11 as an example, no one sees it coming."
In the event of a nuclear attack or power plant collapse, Steve Rene is the right person for the job. The former army chemical and biological officer lived in Belarus for 15 years, where he raised four children and provided humanitarian assistance to Chernobyl victims in 1986.
Miller believes that guns are vital to survival under anarchy. He told DailyMail.com: "I keep saying that the NRA has done a poor job in defending gun rights."
When asked about the exact number of members, both Miller and Rene were vague. "I won't answer this question," Miller said. "For security reasons, we didn't get very specific information, but I would say a few hundred."
Anonymity is crucial in preparing the community. The basic rule here is: "Never tell anyone that you are a preparer." Miller explained that this is because "you don't want your neighbors to disturb you in a disaster situation. Say,'Hey, give me food.' So you should always keep it secret.
Miller refuted the widespread accusation that the preparers were "anti-government/anti-establishment" doomsdayists. In fact, he believes that "preparers" are more common than people think, "There are millions of people in the United States and around the world. They are your neighbors, but you don't know it."
He blamed TV shows like National Geographic's "Doomsday Preparers" for the misconception that the preparers were conspiracy-minded hysterics, and they had hordes of canned beans hidden in their basements. He admitted that this popular show did film "Crazy People", but believed that this was because the vast majority of ordinary preparers had complied with the core rules of the Apocalypse project.
"So you often don't see ordinary preparers on TV, because they will never tell you that they were preparers in the first place!"
The coronavirus pandemic legitimizes the existence of extreme survivalists. Once ridiculed for hoarding supplies, preparers have reason to feel rehabilitated. Although the COVID-19 chaos has translated into a surge in Fortitude Ranch's business, Drew Miller hopes this will be seen as a "wake-up call."
Rene said: "You need to be prepared to a certain extent. This is something you can't really foresee." "Take 9/11 as an example. No one has seen it come."
At the same time, Dr. Drew Miller’s goal is to open a Fortitude Ranch in Nevada next, but he is scrambling to raise funds to meet the sudden demand for his brand’s simple bunker. The pit is full of bullets, beans and band-aids. For Miller, the bottom line is simple: "The more locations we have, the more lives we can save."
Pictured is a bedroom in the "luxury package", which provides members of West Virginia (left) with maximum space and privacy, while the kitchen of the former bed and breakfast displays an assault rifle on the table. Miller prefers to call them "defensive rifles"
The communal living space in the "Deluxe Package" at the Fortitude Ranch West Virginia plant is the old bed and breakfast
Many of the tools and supplies needed to survive the collapse of human civilization in Fortitude Ranch include handheld radios and radiation detection equipment during nuclear attacks. Rene said that both farms have the ability to survive on and off the grid
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