There's no denying the world is somewhat in turmoil right now, so it isn't surprising that some savvy homeowners are utilising their land to create secure, underground spaces where they could see out a nuclear disaster, war or even an apocalypse.

From subterranean shelters you can install at home to unbelievable hideaways real people have built in their backyards, these retreats would be the perfect places to hunker down and wait out the worst.

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This self-sustaining ranch in Paulden, Arizona, was for sale in August 2024 for £683,700 ($899k) and comes complete with five acres (two ha) of fenced land, as well as a 3,687-square-foot (343sqm) main house and a cosy guest cabin.

But, of course, that isn't all...

The main residence was built in 1996 and benefits from four bedrooms, three bathrooms, an open-plan living room, a modern kitchen, a dining room, a soundproofed media room, a laundry room and a pantry.

Traditionally styled with beamed ceilings and stone fireplaces, the house is certainly move-in ready.

Yet the house is the least exciting part of this estate. The acreage also boasts two high-producing wells, a windmill-powered 10,000-gal storage tank, a vegetable garden for growing your own food, a workshop and equestrian facilities.

There are ponds, too, as well as a secure, automatic gate that can keep out any unwanted visitors. 

Yet the home's best kept secret is this amazing underground bunker. Hidden somewhere in the backyard, the secure space features just one long room, with thick block walls and a concrete ceiling and floor.

The bunker is currently completely vacant, but could easily be converted into an ultra-cool panic room.

This property looks rather unassuming from the outside. The modern, workshop-style building sits on a 23-acre (9.3ha) lot in Allen, Kansas, and comes complete with an amazing abandoned bunker – a nuclear missile base, to be precise.

For sale with RE/MAX Connections in August 2024, the home was listed for £569,700 ($749k) and for good reason. 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.

We'll step inside in a moment but first, the home itself features a bright and spacious interior, with a living area, eat-in kitchen, one bedroom and one bathroom. There's also a laundry room.

Yet the bunker is really the main draw of this house. This mammoth underground 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 and barb wire fence that spans the perimeter of the estate.

As for the interior, the bunker looks like it hasn't been touched in decades. There's an imposing entrance tunnel and countless vast rooms waiting to be renovated. Of course, there are no windows, but there's endless space for a living room, kitchen and multiple bedrooms.

In fact, the listing suggests there are 15,000 square feet (1,394sqm) of space inside the bunker, which means it's more than big enough for a 10-person entourage.

Imagine starting your property search for a cool fixer-upper and stumbling across a house with its own backyard bunker. Well, that's exactly what this intriguing residence has to offer.

Located in Redding, a city in northern California, the pad sits on five acres (2ha) of land and has far more than a ranch-style home to offer.

The single-storey dwelling benefits from 1,632 square feet (152sqm) of interior space, with an open-plan living area, a kitchen, three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

A little on the old-fashioned side, the property could do with a makeover. However, it's really all about the bonus extra that lies in the backyard...

That's right, this residence comes complete with a hidden bunker, tucked into the hillside. The underground space is camouflaged among the greenery, with only its narrow entrance door visible.

The secure steel door opens into a dark and compact bunker, with rough stone walls and a ladder that no doubt leads to a hatch door at the top of the hill. The space is currently blank but would make for one seriously cool hideout.

The property also has multiple outbuildings and a greenhouse, so the owner could grow their own food. This awesome home was for sale in August 2024, via Josh Barker Real Estate, for a snip under £197,700 ($260k).

If you'd love to add a bunker to your own backyard, Texas-based Atlas Survival Shelters offers a range of affordable bunkers that will keep you safe and sound in all situations.

The company's Modular Square shelter is one of their finest and comes complete with a state-of-the-art air filtration system, a generator room and enough solid steel to save you from bomb blasts, fire, floods and disease.

The perfect fit for a large back garden, the shelter is designed as an emergency home away from home. It features thick steel walls, a bulletproof hatch and gas-tight doors to help stop gamma radiation in its tracks.

Plus, it boasts a decontamination room, so you can ensure people are safe to enter the main shelter.

The modular shelter looks more like a tiny home than a bunker, thanks to its well-appointed interior.

It offers a modern, open-plan living space with a lounge, fully-fitted kitchen and dining area, as well as an LED TV and DVD player, throws, cushions and an array of other creature comforts.

There's also a spacious bunk room, a separate master suite and a luxurious bathroom with a walk-in shower. A number of potentially life-saving add-ons can be snapped up, too, for an additional charge. These include camera surveillance, short-wave radios, solar panels and last but not least, multiple radiation detectors.

The shelter is available in no less than nine sizes and layouts, so prices vary. Interested parties can request a quote by dropping Atlas an email.

This beautiful nine-acre (3.6ha) estate is located in Kansas, USA, and comes complete with an eight-foot (2.4m) barbed wire fence that surrounds the main property, as well as a huge deeded driveway that's fenced and gated.

That's because this property is hiding a rather impressive secret...

That's right, the acreage is home to a secure bunker that's almost invisible. Described by the company who made it as “truly the safest 'bunker' on the planet,” the subterranean space is positioned nearly 200 feet (61m) below the ground.

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 £114 million ($150m) to build, in today's money. It was recently renovated to make it perfect for a modern prepper.

One of several Atlas missile silos built by the US Government during the Cold War, the underground bunker was constructed by engineering scientists to survive nuclear attacks, catastrophic storms and much more.

This one was built with nine-foot (2.7m) thick reinforced concrete and measures 52 feet (15.8m) in diameter. A whopping 600 tons of steel rebar was used alongside the concrete, though all that is visible from ground level is the secure, 7,000-pound (3,175kg) steel blast door.

Inside, stairs descend to multiple levels, with surprisingly generous living spaces on each. Every floor stretches out across 2,000 square feet (186sqm)  and the interior is said to be large enough to accommodate an 18-storey building inside.

A 40-foot (12m) tunnel leads from the control centre to the missile silo and there are endless spaces to utilise. The amazing underground retreat was for sale in August 2024 for a cool £988,800 ($1.3m).

If you're searching for an emergency retreat to fit a smaller area, the Mini Bunker by Rising S Bunkers is a compact and affordable option, with prices starting at just £37,300 ($49k).

Designed to protect its occupants from bomb blasts and nuclear fallout, the solid steel structure can be lifted into place to provide an instant garden shelter.

Measuring just eight feet (2.4m) by 12 feet (3.7m), the snug bunker offers a basic survival space that can be decorated with homely touches for a more welcoming feel.

The dinky living area has an air filtration system, a bunk bed and a stove to keep its residents toasty and warm in the colder months.

There's also a compact kitchenette, a composting toilet and shower unit, plus a TV/DVD system to keep the whole family entertained. The bunkers are made to order, so buyers can select their ideal floor plan and amenities.

Plus, buyers can add on various options to make their bunker extra safe and comfortable. From ultraviolet water filtration systems to solar power and battery storage, you can customise your space to suit your needs and concerns.

Of course, Rising S Bunkers has plenty of other options for buyers. From a 6,000-square-foot (557sqm) model nicknamed "The Beast" to an 860-square-foot (80sqm) shelter that's perfect for those with minimal space, there's a product to suit all needs and budgets.

The company's most popular model is the 10x50 Silver Leaf series. Prices start at £111,100 ($146k) and there are numerous layout and add-on options available.

The base model was recently redesigned and allows for room separation, unlike other models. In this unit, the kitchen and dining space are located at the opposite end to where the master bedroom and bunk room can be found, with a common living area in between.

A side entry allows for a more traditional home feel and it comes with all the amenities you'd expect, including an electric water heater, a full kitchen, a walk-in shower and a composting toilet.

Unsurprisingly, it includes plenty of life-saving features too; an NBC Air Filtration system with blast valves and over-pressure valves, a bullet-resistant security door, a solar generating charging system with battery supply and an emergency escape hatch.

Plus, floorplan changes can be made at no additional cost, so Rising S Bunkers will tailor your shelter to fit your family's specific needs.

This image shows one of the company's custom-designed models, created for a private client. Homely and cosy, it has everything the owner could need to see out a disaster.

What's more, you can add on anything you think you might need, such as a decontamination room for £22,100 ($29k), underfloor storage and steel air vents.

Almost 40 years ago, Bruce Beach finished building a 10,000-square-foot (292sqm) nuclear bunker out of 42 school buses, in a bid to prepare for the end of the world.

Bruce and his wife, Jean, lived on a 12.5-acre (5ha) parcel in Ontario, Canada, and decided to convert the automobiles into the ultimate safe space.

Named The Ark Two, the shelter sits 14 feet (4.3m) underground and can accommodate around 500 people. It's been designed to support a large community and is equipped with everything from food supplies to plumbing and laundry facilities.

Bruce chose to build his unconventional bunker out of buses because of their reasonable price point. Costing him just £228 ($300) each, the frames of the buses came complete with reinforced steel roofs – ideal for a bomb-proof shelter.

A true prepper, Bruce ensured The Ark Two has everything a small community would need, including a decontamination space, kitchen, laundry, library, dentist, daycare, X-ray facilities and even a small chapel.

With no shortage of room, the shelter is so big that there are maps dotted around the corridors so that residents don't lose their way.

Designed not only as a safety bunker to protect its inhabitants but also as a space to reconstruct society after a devastating catastrophe, the bunker is ready and waiting should a global disaster occur. Sleeping accommodation includes communal bunk rooms assigned according to age and gender.

Sadly, in May 2021, Bruce passed away after suffering from a heart attack and the amazing survival bunker was closed to new members.

Another model option by Atlas Survival Shelters is the Round Culvert bunker. Described by the firm as the "most popular bomb shelter in the world", the model is the ultimate option for those focused on survival.

While the modular square shelter is designed to feel like home, the round culvert is designed to be as strong as possible. It can be buried in your garden and uses the natural strength of the earth as your main protection, not the thickness of its walls.

The durable, underground shelter is actually a 10-foot-long (3m) culvert pipe – these drainage pipes are usually installed into roads, railroads or bridges to allow water to flow through from the surface.

If installed correctly, the bunker can hold up to 42 feet (12.8m) of topsoil, meaning it can be submerged deep below the ground.

Galvanised steel stairs lead down to the gas-tight interior door and inside there are tamper-proof air pipes and an escape tunnel, so you're covered for every eventuality. The living area is compact yet comfortable, with an entertainment centre and a fully-fitted kitchen.

Plus, with a 10-foot ceiling (3m) and plenty of storage underneath the floors, there's room to store food, medical supplies and water. This image is of a different model but highlights how homely and cosy Atlas bunkers can be.

The shelter parts bolt together easily, which makes this shelter extremely easy to install yourself. There are more than 27 model options available, sleeping up to eight people, but no matter which you pick, you'll end up with a comfortable space that offers room for work, rest, sleep and dining.

Prices are available upon enquiry.

Rather than sheltering in your own back garden, you might prefer to hunker down in someone else's. Fortitude Ranch is a doomsday survival camp where preppers can lay low in the event of a major catastrophe.

Founded by Drew Miller, a former military intelligence officer, it has multiple sites, including Texas, Colorado, West Virginia and Nevada.

From the outside, the 50-acre (20ha) Colorado ranch looks like a rustic holiday retreat in the mountains. However, built like a fortress with guard towers and barbed wire fencing, it's no ordinary rural escape.

As well as two large log cabins, there's also an array of underground bunkers nestled in the grounds. Each of the subterranean shelters is built to sustain a nuclear attack, with eight-inch (20cm) thick reinforced concrete, steel plating and three feet (0.9m) of earth covering the roofs of the structures.

Inside, the bunkers are basic but functional, a choice made in part to make the yearly membership fee as affordable as possible.

The ranch provides solar and propane generators as well as kerosene and wood supplies, ensuring the shelters have access to heating and power should disaster strike.

Fortitude Ranch also has an impressive stockpile of food, so residents won't go hungry in the event of a global emergency.

The compound includes a small greenhouse with genetically modified seeds that have a longer shelf life, while some ranch locations even have cattle.

This expansive property lies in Lincoln County, Washington, and features almost 25 acres (10ha) of land and an 820-square-foot (76sqm) home, connected to a 3,794-square-foot (352sqm) metal garage and workshop.

But that isn't nearly all...

On the property is a true piece of Cold War history – a former Atlas E Missile Silo. This amazing bunker once housed a mighty intercontinental ballistic missile that was ready to be launched to defend the United States.

It would have been home to dozens of men, whose job it was to track any incoming attacks and launch the missile when instructed. A driveway leads to the bunker's huge, impenetrable entrance door.

Once inside, you'll find vast rooms that haven't yet been renovated, as well as a series of tunnels that lead further inside the bunker.

Amazingly, there's 1,906 square feet (177sqm) of space below the ground. There's also an elevator that connects each of the underground rooms.

As for living spaces, the bunker is surprisingly spacious and modern, with comfortable and stylish rooms. There's a kitchen and dining area, a sitting room and various bedrooms and bathrooms. In fact, there are three bedrooms and three bathrooms in total on the estate.

With endless potential, underground security and the intrigue of the past, this Atlas E Missile Silo is a treasure hiding in plain sight. It was on the market with Survival Realty in August 2024, for £1.1 million ($1.5m).

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