With war, the rise of AI and a recent pandemic to contend with, the protection provided by a self-sufficient hideaway has never been more appealing. 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 to browse the best vacant bunkers on the market right now...
If you know anything about bunkers, you'll have heard of Vivos xPoint. Located near the Black Hills area of South Dakota, just south of Edgemont, the community is proud to be the world's largest survival bunker complex.
Almost the size of Manhattan, Vivos xPoint stretches 18 square miles (46.6km), with 575 bunkers arranged along 100 miles (29km) of private roads. Amazingly, the compound can shelter up to 5,000 people.
If this sounds like the place for you, then there's currently a vacant bunker for sale on the site. It is being sold off by Exit Realty Black Hills and is priced at just $60,000 (£47k).
Described in the listing as "an empty shell, cleaned, painted and ready to be built in and around", the bunker has been completely sealed, which is an "upgraded feature" to make it water tight.
The bunker provides around 2,050 square feet (190sqm) of interior space. You wouldn't have to worry about safety, either, since the reinforced concrete shelter was designed to be impenetrable. Its history dates back to 1942, just after the United States entered the Second World War.
The site was established as the US Army's Black Hills Ordnance Depot and the domed bunkers were built to store weapons and ammunition. The military base was closed in 1967 and the site was abandoned, until real estate mogul Robert Vicino bought the land from a local cattle rancher and set about creating the world's most sought-after network of apocalypse shelters.
Inside, the bunker is vacant, with a soaring barrel ceiling. Many of the bunkers that have already been renovated on the site have between two and six bedrooms, as well as a living space, kitchen and bathroom.
Many residents have also installed solar panels for off-grid electricity and are no longer dependent on gas. Really, the possibilities are endless.
What’s more, water is supplied via an underground aquifer, but use of the water has to be purchased from The Vivos Group. Electric can also be purchased and installed privately, and septic systems have not yet been installed.
If you're looking for a ready-made bunker that has already been fitted out, then Exit Realty Black Hills also has a few on offer, including 10490 Bunker Road and 10356 Bunker Road.
If living underground doesn't sound like something you'd enjoy, then you might be intrigued by this listing.
This above ground bunker lies in Eufaula, Alabama, and sits on more than 10 acres (4ha) of mostly open fields, providing ample space for outdoor activities, farming or further development.
Listed with The Eufaula Agency and priced at a mere $115,000 (£90k), the highly affordable bunker is formed from corrugated metal and boasts strong metal double doors that block out the outside world.
It currently features no windows, so the buyer may wish to add some to draw a little more sunshine inside.
The bunker is fully powered and climate-controlled, offering endless renovation possibilities – it could be transformed into a secluded survivalist retreat, or a cool military-themed holiday home.
Inside, the bunker is spacious but definitely not very cosy. But with the right makeover, we're sure the interior could be made welcoming and inviting.
Although we don't know the exact dimensions of the property, we're certain it would provide enough room for a living area, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.
Plus, the estate comes with a professionally designed long gun range, complete with safety berms for responsible use. There's endless land for wildlife spotting and hunting, too, so the buyer could become self-sufficient.
This unique property is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, hobbyists or those looking to create a retreat away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
If you'd rather be in North Carolina, then this listing could be for you. Look closely at the clearing among the trees and you might just be able to spot a mound of earth...
Far from just being a heap of soil, this is actually the exterior of a historic and ultra-secure World War II bunker. The 2.4-acre (1ha) waterfront property is nestled on the shoreline of the scenic Pasquotank River in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
Although it doesn't look like much from the outside, the structure is pretty spacious inside and offers endless possibilities when it comes to conversions.
The buyer could create a unique full-time home, or build a separate property and use the bunker as a secure space to hideout, a private studio or even a quirky holiday let.
A real blank canvas, the interior has a bare concrete floor, curving walls and a dramatic ceiling.
Of course, the buyer will need to install some windows and add a few creature comforts to make the space livable, but there's plenty of room for an open-plan living area, a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.
The spacious property is also positioned close to a road and comes with a stunning garden, complete with a pier that will allow the new owner to make full use of the Pasquotank River.
All this could be yours for just $120,000 (£94k). If you're keen, then Water Street Real Estate Group has all the details you need.
Another highly affordable option is this 40-acre (16.2ha) compound in Arizona. Nestled on the El Rancho Trail in Snowflake, the property has been described by listing agent Robin Stradling, of Realty Executives Arizona Territory, as "a diamond in the rough with beautiful views".
The roomy plot comes complete with a steel bunker, built into the ground. A solid steel door is all that can be seen from the surface, but when opened, a full staircase is revealed, leading down into the space below.
Sadly, we don't know the square footage of the bunker, but we do know it has more than one room.
There's a fully equipped kitchen, a large storage space, a bathroom and a bunk room, so it's likely the space could accommodate between two and four people.
At the moment, the interior is fairly basic, but certainly move-in ready, with access to running water (provided by an on-site well) and a septic system.
However, the buyer may choose to undertake a renovation to make the bunker more comfortable and homely.
Plus, the acreage is also home to basement foundations, which could be put to use as part of a larger home.
The buyer will need just $239,900 (£187k), but no doubt more funds will be needed to turn this bunker into the survival compound of their dreams.
Over in Suffolk County, New York, lies this extensive rural estate. Prominently situated along the Nissequogue Riverfront, the land stretches over two acres (0.8ha), so there's plenty of room for development.
The estate itself is private and secluded, with nothing but trees and fields for miles around.
However, it's also conveniently located 10 minutes' drive from the hamlet of St James and the town of Smithtown, so you'll still be connected to civilisation and be able to get hold of all your essentials.
Yet the best bit about this property is its cool abandoned bunker. Crafted from concrete blocks, it appears incredibly secure and is built into a land bank, making it nicely camouflaged among the surrounding foliage.
According to the listing, the shelter was the original rum running bunker room that fueled Smithtown's famed history. Essentially, this means the bunker was used for hiding and storing illegal rum and other liquor during the Prohibition period, which ran from 1920 to 1933.
Rum runners would risk it all to smuggle alcohol from foreign countries, usually via boat, and sell it on to secret 'speakeasies' that were found across the USA at the time.
The land also comes with partial foundations, which could be utilised for building a home, as well as the original estate horse paddock. So, the new owner could create an amazing equestrian estate with its very own secret bunker in the backyard.
Fancy it? The property is for sale with Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty for $499,000 (£389k).
Over in Huerfano County, Colorado, you'll find this vast rural estate. Known as Turkey Creek Retreat, the property stretches 40 acres (16.2ha) and comes with almost everything you could need to escape the rat race and live entirely off the grid.
As well as endless land for you to build your dream home on, the estate also comes with an ultra-secure bunker that could be used for seeing out any sort of natural disaster or world-ending event.
If you look closely, you might just be able to spot the outline of it, built into a land bank.
Priced at $585,000 (£457k), the property is available via Hayden Outdoors Real Estate and could be the answer to all your survival needs. At nearly 1,000 square feet (93sqm), the underground shelter is constructed from steel and features a huge blast door, for security.
According to the listing, the bunker was “overengineered for maximum safety” and is equipped with a military-grade air scrubber, to provide a safe retreat from any biological, chemical or nuclear incident.
Inside, the abandoned space comes equipped with a kitchen, three bedrooms and a full bathroom. That makes the bunker ready to use and big enough for you and your nearest and dearest.
Although move-in ready, the bunker does appear to have been vacant for some time and could definitely do with some modernisation and extra home comforts.
A productive well is already in place, with a solar-powered pump, and a septic system serves the underground shelter. What’s more, the property is off-grid. The current owner relies on solar power and a generator, while an on-site pond and river provide fresh fish. That means all your water, food and power needs will be met.
Turkey Creek runs through the property, too, creating scenic waterfalls and natural pools. And, the parcel directly borders state land which, in turn, directly borders tens of thousands of acres of national forest, offering limitless outdoor recreational opportunities.
Have you ever wanted to own an Atlas E. Missile silo? Well now is your chance, because this one isn't just authentic, it's also huge and brimming with amazing military features.
Located on 23 acres (9.3ha) in Allen, Kansas, the former nuclear missile base is highly secure and ripe for restoration.
For sale with RE/MAX Connections for $749,000 (£583k), the bunker is extremely rare. In fact, it is thought that only 27 Atlas E. Missile silos were built in the 1960s, during the Cold War.
The Atlas was the United States Air Force's first operational intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and went through several upgrades over the years.
Atlas E missiles were used between September 1961 and January 1965, after which they were phased out in favour of the more modern Titan and Minuteman models. This particular facility was built to house an Atlas E missile and was designed, like all similar bases, to withstand a one-megaton airburst from a distance of up to 1.6 miles (2.6km).
The underground bunker is not only extremely secure, with steel blast doors and impenetrable concrete walls, but it is further protected by a chain link fence that spans the perimeter of the site and is protected by barbed wire.
As for the interior of the bunker, it's as if it hasn't been touched in decades. Countless rooms are waiting to be renovated, as well as a super cool entrance tunnel that leads down into the depths.
The listing suggests there are 15,000 square feet (1,394sqm) of space in the bunker, which means it's more than big enough for you and your entire entourage.
The estate is also home to a 4,000-square-foot (372sqm) Quonset hut, which offers both a garage space and living quarters. The house would be a great base for the buyer, while they transform the bunker into the perfect secure home.
But that's not all. For your money, you’ll also gain a private airstrip, providing the ultimate escape route when the need arises.
For sale with Keller Williams Metropolitan for $1.1 million (£857k), this remote bunker is positioned on 120 acres (49ha) of land in Houston County, Texas, around eight miles (12.8km) from a small town known as Lovelady.
With a population of just 570, this historic railway town dates back to the 1870s but still has a high school, a post office, a gas station, a pizzeria and a doughnut shop within a 10-minute drive from the site.
The estate is forested pine timberland, which means the buyer will be able to establish their own timber company, should they wish to. The listing specifies there are "varying ages of pine plantation with intermixed hardwoods [that] cover the property".
Plus, hunting here is big, making this listing ideal for anyone looking to be self-sufficient and live off their land.
Of course, there’s plenty of room to self-build a home or two, but there’s also ample space for a few extra bunkers – preppers’ compound, anyone?
There’s already a 1,000-square-foot (93sqm) bunker in place on the property, the steel trap door to which is hidden among the trees.
The underground shelter was formed from concrete and steel, making it super-secure. Inside, it’s bright and spacious, with impenetrable doors, simple carpets and cream walls. Essentially, it’s a blank canvas that’s waiting for a makeover.
Already set up as a renovated bunker, it features an open-plan kitchen with a dining space. Not exactly stylish, the room could do with a refresh, but it's perfectly serviceable, should the buyer wish to move in straight away.
There's also a large vacant room that could be utilised as a lounge, media room or even an extra bedroom. At the moment, the bunker easily sleeps 14 people, but with a little reconfiguration, the buyer could increase this to accommodate everyone they know.
The abandoned bunker also benefits from access to a water well and while it's secluded and private, it's also conveniently located approximately 35 minutes from Huntsville and 20 minutes from Crockett, so you'll be able to reconnect with the wider community whenever you feel the need.
Described by the listing as “truly the safest 'bunker' on the planet”, this subterranean space is hiding nearly 200 feet (61m) underground, on a fenced and gated nine-acre (3.6ha) 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 $150 million (£117m) 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 $1.3 million (£1m).
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 (2.7m) thick reinforced concrete, measures 52 feet (15.8m) in diameter and is 182 feet (55.5m) deep. A whopping 600 tons (544,311kg) of steel rebar was used alongside the concrete, though all that is visible from ground level is a secure, 7,000 lb (3,175kg) steel blast door...
Once safely inside, stairs descend to the bunker's 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.
Described as ‘turn-key’ by the listing, a 40-foot (12m) tunnel leads from the control centre to the missile silo and 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 (186sqm), you could even decide to sell them as individual apartments – ideal for doomsday preppers and solitary property hunters alike.
The 52-foot (15.8m) 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.
Loved this? See more remarkable bunkers around the world