Article – Is There a Future in the Doomsday Economy?

Set on a rise above the lush valley cradling the Lost River in eastern West Virginia, about two hours from Washington, D.C., the 50-acre property backs up against the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. A handsome guesthouse, built of dark timber slats, anchors the property. Two large, boxy dormitories, also timber but more rustic, as well as a bare-bones bunker, are designed to house more than 100 members. They are each expected to pay $2,000 to $20,000 (depending on the level of accommodation) to join Fortitude Ranch, and another $1,000 per year per person in dues to call this their “home fort,” meaning they will head there when catastrophe strikes.

I am of the opinion that these “tactical timeshares” are snake oil. If you have the money to sink into a subscription or membership to one of these places then you have the financial wherewithal to build your own. Additionally, when the apocalypse arrives don’t you think the ‘Golden Horde’ will think “Hey, there was that doomsday hotel about ten miles down the road…lets go there!” And unless the security guards at that place are scarily armed and determined, those party crashers will probably get in. I would rather take my chances with five trusted friends on ten acres than two hundred strangers on 640 acres.

The real Doomsday Economy isn’t so much these rental bunkers, but rather everything else. The ‘doomsday economy’ is the market for magazines, ammo, freeze drieds, solar panels, batteries, medical gear, training, communications, etc. And, as long as a large amount of people still retain a good bit of their natural instinct towards self-preservation, those tranches of the market will always be active.

 

16 thoughts on “Article – Is There a Future in the Doomsday Economy?

  1. Agree. And as long as we see events that have been going on this month (Crazy July What ), I don’t see being ”cautious” (paranoia) being a bad thing. I know some people who refuse to look at the news because of ‘crazy stories’ then are amazed to hear what just happened. You can’t make this stuff up – this is movie writer imagination working in Real Time.

    Tribing up is a good idea, for just in case. Just be careful on who you choose and like that common sense dating advice (Make sure you are the crazy one) before making commitments. Mixing single persons with long term married couples, especially with appropriate skills are worth consideration.

  2. Yeah. I would also be wary of showing up to the doomsday timeshare (with a paid up subscription) and what are you going to do if the armed guards there don’t let you in, or keep it all to themselves, or somehow otherwise change the rules. For that thing to help you, you need rules and contracts and other stuff like that to continue working at a time when maybe they won’t. You can’t control how the guards or other people who get there first will act, but at least if you do your own you avoid the problem.

    • Agree. The protagonist in Hammerfall by Pournelle and Niven suffered such a fate, as well as many others in other stories.

      Because any government (or government like goon) that can protect you can also take away all you own

  3. My question is who you gonna call if the people already there won’t let you in? “But ,But I paid for this!”

    • Obviously, you ask to speak to the manager, let them know you are filming this, and you will be submitting a yelp review.

  4. Just like the California Gold Rush, shopkeepers figured out in about 0.2 seconds that the bulk of the gold to be found was…in the miners’ pockets.

    Levi Strauss made millions on his tough new pants.
    San Franciso became a boom town.
    Thousands of people ins support jobs got rich.

    Most 49er miners died paupers.

  5. I remember reading about one and how if a NCB attack the armed ex military at=rm guards would stay outside to keep you safe. Right they will stay outside abandon their family’s and die for a paycheck that will never be cashed. I want to know what kind of world the people buying into these things live in.
    I have noticed there are a lot of Bunkers at Vivos xPoint, located near the Black Hills area of South Dakota, just south of the city of Edgemont have hit the market the last few weeks and they look like they are from many different sellers some for a lot less them the old Vivos price, I have no idea what is going on and don’t care that much but something is.

    • That Vivos operation is an absurd scam.

      For crazy money you get an ammunition storage ‘”igloo” built circa 1942. A concrete arch covered with dirt that has no decent ventilation, a single entrance designed to be locked from the outside, and absolutely zero in the way of useful interior features.

      I spent several years posted at a nearly identical installation in the Southwest (the Army built a number of depots like this at the start of WW II) and find the appeal of such sites to Walter Mittys to be more than puzzling. For survivalist purposes one would be better off buying the earthen-bermed open storage pads between the igloos and building a structure from scratch. You would have the advantages of roads, possible electric power lines, and decent drainage but without the useless mausoleum that an “igloo” actually is.

      I salute the folks at Vivos for taking turds and selling them to foolish and stupid people for big money. Just wish I had thought of it first.

      • Looking at the number that have hit the market these two past weeks, it looks like a lot of people have taken a long time to work out what most already knew. I’d like to find out who was first and then went and had a word with the rest.

  6. This tactical time share is just like wanting to be “prepared” so you go online and buy the cheapest Go-bag with the most made in China gadgets and take it from the mailbox to a closet shelf- check the box- sleep better at night – until reality comes crashing into your life.

  7. I always thought the weak link in these schemes was the security folks. They have the guns and you the rich “owner” (probably) don’t. Trust is very important, I agree with CZ.

  8. There’s “tribing up” and there’s “The Doomsday Arms Hotel.” Which, should things go all pear-shaped, will become a trash magnet of the first order.

  9. Following, many good reader responeses. In today’s society, and sewer level culture, I would not join or participate in any groups clubs organizations etc as they are or will be compromised and taken over by those with ulterior motives or personal enrichment and power grab agendas. Stay lone wolf out there and keep your interactions circle “extremely small”, limited to just direct family and true blood allies friends. Most harms or threats come from other humans that are in an orbit of some sort around you, a nexis connection just like common crime occurances of perpertrators and the victims having links. being a poor and solitary creature will help in missing out on all the human dramas and tradegies occuring. Stay on your own path so as to stay frosty.

  10. Something like this would be workable and effective IF it were done by a group of people who Knew/Trusted (several extended Families) where at least one of the Trusted Families lived there full-time. Other than that, how can you “Trust” people you mostly have Never Met? ‘Common Interests’ notwithstanding.

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