CR 2506 Home is Where the Bunker Is Report v2 · survivalist movement, largely as a reaction to fears of nuclear war. During this period, the survivalist movement was strongly linked

SUMMER 2013

HOME IS WHERE THE BUNKER IS EXTREMIST, SURVIVALIST, AND FRINGE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS

Introduction 2

A Place of Their Own 3

Location, Location, Location 5

A Selected History of Fringe Real Estate 6

Table of ConTenTs

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InTroduCTIonTheir own Private Idaho

Right-wingsurvivalistsinthePacificNorthwestcausedastirrecentlywhentheyannouncedplansforTheCitadel,aproposedsurvivalistcommunitytobebuiltinaremoteareaofIdaho.AccordingtoTheCitadel’sWebsite,thecommunitywillbe“liberty-driven”andconsistofresidents“whohavesworntheirLives,theirFortunesandtheirSacredHonortodefendoneanotherandLiberty.”Non-right-wingersneednotapply.AccordingtoTheCitadel,“Marxists,LiberalsandEstablishmentRepublicanswilllikelyfindthatlifeinourcommunityisincompatiblewiththeirexistingideologyandpreferredlifestyles.”

TheCitadelallegedlyplanstobuybetween2,000and3,000acres,partofwhichwillbewalledinordertocreateafortifiedcommunity.TheCitadelmaybethebrainchildofChristianKerodin,whofiledpapersinIdahoinNovembertocreateacompanycalledCitadelLandDevelopment.Kerodinisafelonwhospenttimeinfederalprisonafterbeingconvictedin2004ofextortionchargesandillegalpossessionofafirearm.OnceaheatingandairconditioningrepairmaninnorthernVirginia,Kerodinhadstarteda“consultingfirm”after9/11thatissuedreportscriticizingsecurityatlocalmalls.Hisschemewastoextortmoneyfrommallownersbythreateningtoexposetheir“vulnerabilities”toterrorismiftheydidnothirehimasaconsultant.Afterhisarrest,federalagentsalsofoundanillegalsawed-offshotguninhisapartment.

FutureresidentsmayfindTheCitadelabitspartan.Every“able-bodiedPatriot”overtheageof13willhavetodemonstrateproficiencywitharifleandhandgun,whileeveryadultresidentwillberequiredtoownanassaultrifleandatleast1,000roundsofammunition.Conveniently,thecreatorsofTheCitadelalsostartedtheIIIArmsCompany,whichsellssuchassaultrifles.Moreover,adultresidentswillberequiredtocarryaloadedsidearmeverywhereotherthantheCitadelTownCenter(there’sanexceptionforthose,likeKerodin,whoarelegallyprohibitedfromcarryingfirearms).Ofcourse,theCitadelwouldbenothingwithoutitsownmilitia.Eachhouseholdwillberequiredtosupplyoneperson,aged13orolder,fora“TownMilitia.”

TheCitadelhasbeeninspired,inpart,bythe“ThreePercenter”concept.Thisisalooseanti-governmentextremistmovementstartedbyformerAlabamamilitialeaderMikeVanderboeghandbasedonahistoricallyincorrectmyththatonlythreepercentoftheAmericanpopulationopposedtheBritishintheAmericanRevolution.ThreePercentersviewthemselvesasthevanguardofafuturerevolutionagainsttheallegedtyrannyofthecurrentAmericangovernment.

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a PlaCe of TheIr ownIntentional Communities on the fringes of society

TheplansforTheCitadel,thoughcertainlygrandiose,areactuallynotreallynew.ThereisalongtraditionintheUnitedStatesoffringereligiousandideologicalgroupscreatingtheirownplannedorintentionalcommunities.TheShakersdidsointhelate1700sandearly1800s.Becauseofpersecutionbyothers,MormonstrekkedallthewaytoUtahinthemid-19thcenturytoestablishacommunitytogether.

Intheearly20thcentury,whitesupremacistWilliamE.RikerfoundedHolyCityonapatchoflandoutsideofSanJose,California.TherehisfollowerslivedwhileherepeatedlyranforgovernorofCaliforniaonawhitesupremacistplatform,arguingthatnon-whitesshouldbebannedfromowningbusinesses.Inthe1940s,hewastried(butacquitted)onseditionchargesforhissupportofAdolfHitler.HolyCitylastedthroughthe1950s.

Manyothersectsandgroupshaveattemptedtoestablishcommunitiesovertheyears,usuallyunsuccessfully.Thistraditionstillexistsinthemodernera.Membersofmanyfringereligiousgroupslivetogetherinrelativelyisolatedareas.Sotoodothemembersofsomeextremistgroups,orgroupsthatmergebothextremeideologiesandobscurereligiousbeliefs.ExamplesofthelatterincludethepolygamousFundamentalistChurchofLatterDaySaints,whocontrolanentiretownontheUtah-Arizonaborder;theNuwaubianNationofMoors,whohaveacompoundinPutnamCounty,Georgia;andElohimCity,awhitesupremacistChristianIdentitygroupwithacompoundontheOklahoma-Arkansasborder.

Theadvantagesofsucharrangementsareobvious:adherentscanliveamongfellowbelievers,awayfrompryingeyes(ofneighborsorthegovernment),andcanraisetheirchildrenunderconditionsthattheycontrol.Sincemanysuchreligiousorextremistgroupsmayhaveviewsthatareunpopular,suchintentionalcommunitiesalsoofferamodicumofprotectionformembers.However,theyalsosometimesallowtheleadersofsuchgroupstoexerciseatremendousamountofcontroloverthedailyandevenprivatelivesoftheresidents.

Activistsfromfringegroupsormovementshaveoftenurgedlike-mindedpeopletomovetospecificplacesorpartsofthecountry.WhitesupremacistJasonBarnwell,amemberofBloodandHonour-USAandtheAryanTerrorBrigade,recentlytriedtogetotherwhitesupremaciststomovetoEveningShade,Arkansas:“We’vebought12acreswithwaterfront,andarelookingtobuildacommunityofsolidFolkwhoarethesame.Sowearenetworkingandtryingtofindtherightpeople.”Atleastonewhitesupremacistdidrelocatethere.However,theprojectabruptlyhaltedafterBarnwell,hisgirlfriend,andseveralotherwhitesupremacistswerearrestedon(andlaterpleadedguiltyto)federalchargesrelatedtothefirebombingofaninterracialcouple’shomeinHardy,Arkansas.

Otherpeoplehavebeenmoreambitious.Inthe1970sand1980s,whitesupremacistsurgedtheirfellowraciststorelocatetothePacificNorthwest,aprojectdubbedthe“NorthwestTerritorialImperative.”Morerecently,someright-wingersandlibertariansin2001beganurgingtheirfellowbelieverstomovetoNewHampshireaspartofthe“FreeStateProject.”

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Inspiredbythatnotion,amorereligiously-inclinedright-wingactivistnamedCoryBurnellproposedthat“ChristianConstitutionalists”relocatetoSouthCarolinaaspartofaprojectdubbed“ChristianExodus.”Ultimately,Burnellfantasized,SouthCarolinacouldsecedefromtheUnitedStatestocreateacountrywithagovernmentrunonallegedlyChristianprinciples.

Somewhitesupremacistscameupwithadifferentapproach:PioneerLittleEuropes(PLEs).PromotedoriginallybyH.MichaelBarrettandMarkCotterillandlaterstronglysupportedbymembersoftheStormfrontwhitesupremacistInternetforum,PLEswouldbeasortof“communitywithinacommunity.”Whitesupremacistslivingwithinaparticulararea,joinedbyothersmovingtothevicinityfromoutside,wouldformtheirowncommunitynestledwithinsometownorcity.These“seedcommunities”wouldsomehowformthebasisforafuturewhite-supremacist-oriented“culturalrevival.”Sincetheconceptwasintroduced,variouswhitesupremacistshavehalf-heartedlytriedtocreatePLE’sinvariousplacesintheUnitedStates.TheonlyplacewherewhitesupremacistscouldclaimanyresultsatallisKalispell,Montana,wheresince2008whitesupremacistAprilGaedehasbeenenthusiasticallypromotingthetownasaPLElocation.

Itshouldbenotedthatfewoftheseplannedcommunities,nomatterthestrategyusedtoformthemorthestructurethattheytake,endupbeingsuccessful.First,manyfringeplannedcommunityconceptsareoftenill-conceivedandimpracticalevenattheirstart,withtheircreatorshavingnorealisticchanceofbringingthemtocompletion,muchlesssustainingthem.

Evenwhenthecreatoractuallyhastheabilitytostartsuchacommunity,fillingitisanotherstory.Itisoftendifficulttoconvincefamiliestouprootthemselvesfromoneareaandmoveacrossthecountrytoanunfamiliarplace,especiallyaremotelocationthatmayhavepoorinfrastructureandoffernoemploymentprospects.Inmanyinstances,practicalityandfinancestrumpideologyorsurvivalism.

Finally,internalbickeringandfightingwithinsuchcommunitiesfrequentlytearthemapart,asinhabitantsbegintoresentorarguewiththedevelopersorwitheachother.Often,withinjustafewyearsofstartingsuchacommunity,peoplebegintoabandonitforgreenerpastures.

Asaresultofthesecircumstances,thehistoryoffringeplannedcommunitieslargelytendstobeoneoffailure.Fringereligiousgroupstendtohaveasomewhatbettersuccessrecordinestablishingsuchcommunitiesthandothosebasedonmoresecularbeliefsystems,especiallyifthegroupisatightlyknitgroupthatbuildstheplacetogether.Eventhere,thesuccessrecordisnotgood.

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Plannedorintentionalcommunitiescreatedbyfringegroupsexistallovertheglobe.ButapeculiarlyAmericantwistonthenotionistheideaofcommercializingsuchcommunities—ofnotsimplycreatingplannedcommunitiesbutactuallypromotingormarketingthem,oftenwiththeideaofmakingaprofit.

Thoughsometimessuchfringerealestateconceptshavebeenmarketedtowhitesupremacists,itisanti-governmentextremistsandsurvivalistswhopromotersfarmoreoftentrytoreach.Suchpracticeshavebeenoccurringformorethan30years.Inthesimplestversion,individualrealestateagents,typicallyinremoteorruralareasofthecountry,justuseasurvivalist-orientedmarketingpitchtohelpconvincewould-beproperty-buyerstobuyhomesorplotsoflandintheirareas.

However,everynowandthen,realestatepromotersemerge—oftenfromwithinextremistmovementsthemselves—whohavemoregrandioseambitions.Theyseeknottosellanindividualplotoflandorhousebuttocreateanentirecommunityoflike-mindedpeople.

Suchrealestatepromotionscananddoemergeallthetime,butmanyofthemhaveoccurredinoneoranotherofthreewaves:

1. early-to-mid 1980s.Twomainfactorsdrovedevelopmentsinthisperiod:1)aresurgenceofright-wingextremismthatlastedforanumberofyears,and2)thebirthofthesurvivalistmovement,largelyasareactiontofearsofnuclearwar.Duringthisperiod,thesurvivalistmovementwasstronglylinkedtoright-wingextremism.

2. Mid-to-late 1990s.Asecondsurgeofright-wingextremismhelpedfuelthesecondwave,whichincreasedneartheendofthedecadebecauseofhysteriasurroundingtheso-called“Millenium”or“Y2K”computerbugthatmanypredictedwouldcausetechnologicalcivilizationtocrash.FearofY2Kcausedarevivalofsurvivalismthatbecameattractivetosomepeopleinmainstreamsociety.

3. from 2009 to the present.Oncemore,asurgeofright-wingextremismhashelpedcreateandpropelthecurrentwave,aidedbyastrongresurgenceofthesurvivalistsubculture(withsurvivalistsnowoftencallingthemselves“preppers”).Thissurvivalistrevivalhasalsobroughtadherentsinfromlessextremecircles,thankstoapopculturefascinationwithcataclysmiceventsthathasincludedbothMayanandzombieapocalypses,aswellasfearsofeconomiccollapsegeneratedbythe“GreatRecession.”Asaresult,anumberofthedevelopmentscreatedduringthisperiodhavebeenmore“mainstream,”offering“equalopportunity”protectionagainstavarietyofimaginedthreatsrangingfromunlikelytoimpossible—incontrasttomanyearlierdevelopments,whichweremoreclearlyassociatedwithspecificfringebeliefsormovements.

loCaTIon, loCaTIon, loCaTIon fringe Communities and real estate

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Recentdecadeshaveseenmanyattemptedfringecommunitiescomeandgo,despitethepromotionaleffortsoftheirorganizers.Survival-orientedentrepreneurshavetriedtostartcommunitiescenteredonparticularideologies(suchaswhitesupremacyoranti-governmentextremism),particularreligiousbeliefs,andspecificcausesorinterests(suchasgun-owning).Theyalsohavestartedcommunitiesaimedmoregenericallyatwould-besurvivalists,pitchingthecommunitybroadlyonthebasisofsurvivalismratherthanmorenarrowlylinkingittoacauseorbeliefsystem.

Whatfollowsisaveryselectivelistofsomeofthemoreinterestingattemptsatfringe,survivalist,specialinterestorextremistplannedcommunitiesthathaveemergedinthepastseveraldecades(arrangedinreversechronologicalorderbasedontheirenddates).

The Citadel (2012-present, Benewah County, Idaho)

Asitsnamesuggests,theconceptbehindTheCitadelisthecreationofafortifiedandarmedsurvivalist“liberty-driven”communitywithanextremeright-wingorientation(shunningeven“EstablishmentRepublicans”).ChristianKerodin,aformerheatingrepairmanfromVirginiawhohasspenttimeinfederalprisononextortioncharges,filedpapersinNovember2012tocreatetheCitadelLandDevelopmentcompany.AccordingtoitsWebsite,thisplannedcommunitywillrequireresidentstoownassaultriflesandtocarryloadedweapons.Itwillalsohaveitsownmilitiagroup(infact,TheCitadeldescribesitselfas“amartialendeavordesignedtoprotestResidents

intimesofperil”).AccordingtoitsWebsite,itenvisionsaneventualcommunityofsome3,500to7,000families(anumberthatwoulddwarftheactualpopulationofthecounty,whichhasonlyaround9,000inhabitants),whowouldliveinconcretehomes.However,theorganizershaveyettoevenpurchaseland,muchlessbreakground(inlateApril2013,TheCitadelorganizersannouncedthattheywould“breakgroundontheCitadelBeachheadwithinthenext45days.”

luxury survival Condo (2010-present, Salina, Kansas)

Oneofthemorehighly-publicizedcommercially-orientedsurvivalcommunitiesthathaspoppedupduetotherecentresurgenceofsurvivalismistheLuxurySurvivalCondo,builtbyColorado-basedrealestatedeveloperLarryHallinseveralColdWar-eramissilesilosoutsideofSalina,Kansas.Unlikethemoremiddle-classVivosdevelopment(seebelow),SurvivalCondoisdesignedpurelyforthewealthysurvivalist,withspacesellingat$2millionaflooror$1millionperhalf-floor.Thegrandioseplansforthesilosincludepools,movietheaters,libraries,medicalcenters,andschools.Whenaskedbyareporteraboutnear-termfuturethreats,Hallreplied,“Pickyourpoisonhere.Economiccollapse,pandemics,terror,globalclimatechange,supervolcano,earthquakes,tsunamis,solarflares,poleshifts,PlanetX,Oortcloud,civilunrest…”Hallclaimstohavesoldnumerousunits.

a seleCTed hIsTory of frInge real esTaTe

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Vivos (2009-present, Indiana, Nebraska, “Rockies”)

Capitalizingontherecentrevivalofsurvivalism,in2009,theCalifornia-basedVivosGroupbegantomarketa“globalnetworkofundergroundshelters,”whichostensiblywouldprotectpeoplefromeverythingfromthe“endtimes”toanarchiststotheNorth/SouthpoleshiftstotheeverdangerousPlanetX.ThemanbehindVivoswasRobertVicino,aCaliforniamarketerandrealestatedeveloper.AccordingtoVivos,theimpetusforhisventurewasthethen-approaching“Mayanapocalypse”thatwouldallegedlyendtheworldonDecember21,2012.“I’mcarefulnottopromotefear,”Vicinotoldonereporter,thoughtheVivosWebsiteseemsalmostdedicatedtothatexpresspurpose.Vivosallegedlybeganconstructingmassiveundergroundsheltercomplexes,madefromexistinghardenednuclearshelters,thatcouldostensiblyaccommodategroupsrangingfrom50to1,000people,andwouldprovidemanyfacilities,includingsecurityandmedicalcare.VivosclaimsitisbuildingorhasbuiltsheltersinIndiana,Nebraska,andthe“Rockies,”whilemediareportssuggestanothershelternearBarstow,California.Inthesummerof2012,itallegedlybeganscoutinglocationsinScotland.Asof2013,theIndianasheltercomplexwasallegedlysoldout,buttheNebraskaand“Rockies”shelterswereavailablefor$35,000foranadultand$25,000forachild.

liberty Villages (2003, 2009-present, New Mexico)

Oneofthemoreambitiousattemptsataplannedcommunityoccurredin2003,whenClayDouglas,aconspiracytheorist,magazinepublisherandvirulentanti-Semite,brieflyteamedupwiththeAmericanFreePress(AFP),aconspiratorialandanti-SemiticnewspaperpublishedbywhitesupremacistWillisCarto,inanattempttoraisemoneytopurchaseanentiretowninPlayas,NewMexico.PlayaswasacompanytownbuiltbytheminingcompanyPhelpsDodgeinthe1970s,consistingofmorethan250homesandavarietyofotherbuildings.SeveralyearsafterthecompanycloseditsPlayassmelter,itputthetownupforsale,asking$3.2million.Douglastriedtoraisemoneyfora“downpayment”onthesite,inordertodevelopitasaplannedcommunity,butapparentlynevercameclose.

However,in2009,Douglasresurrectedthenotioninthequitedifferentformofso-called“LibertyVillages,”afterhebegansellingprefabricatedcabins,teepeesandyurts.Hebegantopromotetheideaofcreatingself-sufficientLibertyVillages(an“immediatesolutiontothewhole[NewWorldOrder]planforGlobalCommunism”)acrossthecountry,eachofwhichwouldbenearorinasmalltownandwouldhaveaminimumof15structures,abouthalfofwhichwouldbeoccupiedbypermanentresidents.Theywouldalsohavebunkhousesthatwouldallegedlyshelterhomelessveteransandother“ConstitutionallyKnowledgeable”persons.Douglasstillcontinuestomarketthisconcepttoday,althoughitappearstobearathertransparentmoney-makingattemptandseemstohavehadfewtakers.

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almost heaven (1994-present, Kamiah, Idaho)

Perhapsthemost“successful”plannedcommunityemergingfromtheright-wingfringewasAlmostHeaven,ahousingdevelopment(or“ChristianCovenantCommunity”)on1,000acresoflandnearKamiah,Idaho,createdin1994byagroupofanti-governmentextremiststhatincludedBoGritz,JerryGillespie,andJackMcLamb.AsJackMcLambputit,“oneoftheessentialpartsofpreparationinvolveshavingaplacetogowherelike-mindedpeoplewhoseektoliveasfreeAmericanscanstandback-to-backtodefendthemselvesfromanypersecutionoraggressionoftyranny.”Unlikemostothersuchcommunities,thelotsofAlmostHeavensoldoutandseveralnearbyfollow-updevelopmentsalsosoldwell,althoughpeoplewereslowertorelocatethantopurchase.ThosewhomovedtoAlmostHeavenincludedawidevarietyofsurvivalists,anti-governmentextremists,andwhitesupremacists,settinguptrailersonpurchasedpropertyorbuildinghomes—includinghomesmadeoftiresorhaybales.

Itwasn’tlongbeforetroubleemergedinAlmostHeaven.Someoftheextremestatementsandactionsofresidentsdisturbedotherlocalresidents,whofrequentlycomplainedtopolice.Thingsweren’tpeacefuleveninheaven,assomeAlmostHeavenresidentsbecamedisenchantedwithGritz,whointurntriedtodistancehimselffromthem.In1999some30residentssignedalettertothelocalsherifftodisassociatethemselveswithGritz,claimingtheywerenotinterestedin“cultlifestylesorbehaviors.”However,residentsmoreradicalthanGritzalsoopposedhim.Oneofthosewas

LarryRaugust,whoheadedamilitiagroup,theIdahoMountainBoys,thatformedinAlmostHeaven.Twoofitsmemberswereconvictedfora1999plottoblowupapropanetankfarmnearSacramento,California,whileRaugusthimselfpleadedguiltyin2003tomakingpipebombsandlandminesthatheburiedaroundtheforeclosedpropertyofafriend.

Eventually,eventhefoundersofAlmostHeavenfelloutwitheachother.GillespieabandonedAlmostHeavenin1997,movingbacktoArizona(hewoulddiein2011).GritzhimselfleftAlmostHeavenin1999afterhiswifedivorcedhim.Ofthefounders,onlyMcLambremainedinIdaho.Duringthecourseofthe2000s,anumberofresidentsofthevariouspropertiesmovedout,whileothersmovedinforreasonsotherthantojoina“covenantcommunity,”andthearealostsomeofitsoriginalfringecharacter.Manyofthelotsarecurrentlyupforsale.

front sight (1998-present, Nye County, Nevada)

Itwasperhapsinevitablethatsomeonewouldconceiveofaplannedcommunityorganizedaroundfirearms.Thepersontodosowasformerchiropractor,gunrangeownerandvigorousself-promoterIgnatiusPiazza,whoownedalargeguntrainingsiteinthedesertinNyeCounty,Nevada.Withfanfare,Piazzaannouncedinthelate1990sthathewouldcreateonhisFrontSightpropertya550-acregatedcommunitywithafive-storySWATtowerandnofewerthan22shootingranges.Withstreetssuchas“SecondAmendmentDrive,”FrontSightwouldboasthundredsofhomesandcondominiums,aswellasanairstripand

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aprivateschool—whoseteachers,naturally,wouldbearmed.AccordingtoPiazza,hehopedtoattractgunownersupsetatstateswithrestrictivegunlaws;hetoldonereporterin2001thathehadalreadysoldnearly50“platinum”membershipsforupto$350,000each.However,thoughoriginallyscheduledtoopenin2001,thatyearcameandwentwithnoprogressatall.By2005,frustratedinvestorshadlaunchedaclassactionlawsuitagainstFrontSightandalengthy,bitterlegalfightensued,withFrontSightbrieflygoingintoreceivership.Yearspassed,buttheplannedcommunitystilldidnotmaterialize.Asoflate2012,aNyeCountyPlanningDepartmentReportreportedthattheprojecthadstillnotyetstarted.

greater arizona Preparedness Project (2008-2009, Northern Arizona)

TheGreaterArizonaPreparednessProject(GAPP)wasstartedin2008bysurvivalistandbordervigilanteTimothyGuineyandhiswife,Viola.Thecoupleclaimedtohave“approximately14acresin2parcels”oflandinnorthernArizonaandsoughtotherstohelpconstructa“survivable,sustainable,&profitablefarmingandranchingcommunity”of100-150families,whichwouldgeneratetheirownelectricityandgrowtheirownfood.AccordingtoGuiney,thepropertyalreadyhadan8,800squarefoot“undergroundNBC[nuclear/biological/chemical]hardenednuclearbunkerincompleteworkingorder.”Althoughsomepeopleexpressedinitialinterest,by2010,GuineyconfessedthatGAPPhadbecomedormant“becauseofinfightingthatdestroyedtheoriginalgroup”andwhichallegedlyalsocausedthelossofthefacility.

Paulville (2008, West Texas)

In2008,MinnesotalibertarianJasonEbacherpurchasedsomedesertlandinremoteWestTexasinordertocreate“Paulville,”a“gatedcommunity”thatwouldcontain“100%RonPaulsupportersand/orpeoplethatlivebytheidealsoffreedomandliberty.”NotonlydidRonPaulhimselfnotrelocatetoWestTexas,neitherdidanyofhisfollowers,renderingPaulvilleessentiallydeadonarrival.

The Confederate Colony (2002-2007, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee)

Itwasperhapsinevitablethatneo-Confederateswouldattempttogetontotheplannedcommunitybandwagon.TheConfederateColonywasthebrainchildofJ.PatBaughman,amemberoftheneo-ConfederateLeagueoftheSouth,andJerryCreech,thenaSouthCarolinaleaderofthewhitesupremacistCouncilofConservativeCitizens.BaughmanandCreech,livinginSouthCarolina,originallylookedattheAbbevilleareafortheir“colony,”whichtheyclaimedwouldbea“planned,gatedcommunity”of27families(agoallaterlowered)to“protectandfurtherourcherishedSouthernChristianCulture.”However,allegedlybecausehecouldgetabetterdealonland,BaughmansoonchangedtheColony’splannedlocationtothePeaRidgeareanearLawrenceburg,Tennessee,“inthegeographicalcenteroftheConfederacy.”TheColonytriedtorecruitespeciallyfromtheLeagueoftheSouthandtheSonsofConfederateVeterans.Fromthebeginning,theColonywasdoggedbychargesofracismandextremism.Defendingitself,theColony’sWebsiteproclaimedthatit

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wasnotracist,thoughitclaimedthatboththe“KKK&NAACParebanned.”Italsoopposedimmigrationandmulticulturalism.

In2005,BaughmanembarkeduponamutualpromotioneffortwiththeSouthernLegalResourceCenter(SLRC),theneo-ConfederatelawfirmheadedbyKirkLyons,whohashadalengthyhistoryofinvolvementwithwhitesupremacistgroupsandindividuals.BaughmanandtheSLRCannouncedanauctionofoneofthepropertiesontheConfederateColony,theproceedsofwhichwouldallegedlygototheSLRC(thewinningbidwas$4,600).However,despitestuntsliketheauction,onlyahandfuloffamilieseverjoinedBaughmaninhisColony.In2010,BaughmanacknowledgedthattheConfederateColony“didn’tworkoutthewayIhadplanned.”BaughmanlatermovedtoTexastoworkonother(moremainstream)housingdevelopmentprojects.

Church of new saxon/european american heritage foundation (2002-2007, Bunnell, Florida)

Beginningin2002,whitesupremacistToddFindleyofBunnell,Florida,beganpromotingvariousrealestateschemestobuildall-whitecommunitiesinFlorida.Theseventuresincludedtheso-calledChurchofNewSaxon,whichFindleyclaimedwouldbea“private,gatedcommunity”thatwouldgive“peopleofEuropeanAmericandecent[sic]achancetogrowafamily,retire,orstartanewlifewithoutthedaytodayproblemsthatlivingindiverseareasofAmericahavetooffernow.”BunnellassociatedhisNewSaxonventurewiththePLEmovement;healsocreatedawhitesupremacistsocialnetworkingWebsitecalled

NewSaxon.AnotherventurewastheEuropeanAmericanHeritageFoundation,whichFindleyclaimedwould“offerFreeHomesandlandforproudEuropean-Americans.”However,Findleylateradmittedthat“togetusupandrunningweacceptednonwhitemoney,”although“intheverynearfutureourorgwillbecompletelydedicatedtohelpingonlywhites.”HeclaimedinJune2004that15familieshadsignedupsofar.Somehow,thehomeswerenotexactlyfree—Findleydemandeda$2,500downpaymentandacceptedsuchpaymentsfromatleast11people.Moreover,heneverbuiltanyhomes,whichresultedinhisarrestin2007on11countsofgrandtheft.Heeventuallypleadedguiltytoorwasconvictedonthreesuchcounts.HesoldtheNewSaxonWebsitetotheneo-NaziNationalSocialistMovementtohelppayhislegalbills.

rivendell (1999-ca2004, Floyd County, Virginia)

AnticipatingasocietalcollapsebecauseofY2K,agroupofconservativeChristians,mostespousingradicaldominionistandpatriarchalmovementdoctrines,createdarefugeforsome20-30familieson437acresoflandinremotewesternVirginia.ProminentfoundersincludedKenGriffith,HowardKing,andPhilipLancaster.ThoughsometimesbillingthemselvestothemediaasmainstreamChristians,theyweretypicallyfarfromthat.KenGriffith,forexample,postedanessayon-linethaturged“Christians”toarmthemselvestofightfuturepersecutionbythegovernment.Rivendell’scommunityincludedanumberofextremists,includingfrequentlyarrestedanti-abortionextremistsandOperationRescueleadersBruceEvanMurchandJoseph

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Foreman,whoarguedthatkillingdoctorsandworkersatclinicsthatperformedabortionwasjustifiablehomicide.ThoughRivendellsuccessfullysurvivedY2K,itdidnotsurviveitsownresidents.Internalbickering,infightingandevenaccusationsofheresybetweendifferentRivendellleaderscausedsometomoveaway,includingfounderKenGriffith,whoshortlythereafterwouldbeconvicted,alongwithtwoothers,ofconspiracy,wirefraud,andmailfraudinconnectionwithatimber-cuttingscheme.Asanexperiment,Rivendellhadfallenapartby2004,thoughachurchassociatedwithitsresidentsstillremains.

Prayer lake (1998-2001, Madison County, Arkansas)

ToallowconservativeChristianstosurviveY2K,BobRutz,afollowerofChristianReconstructionistandsurvivalistGaryNorth,movedeastandstarteda700-acredevelopmentintheArkansasOzarksthathechristened“PrayerLake”(orsometimes“LivingSprings”)whichhemarketedthroughsurvivalistpublications.For$25,000,would-beresidentswouldgeta3-acrelotaswellaslimitedfarmingrights.Rutzsaidthiscouldhelpthemsurvivethecomingcalamity,aswellasotherevents;forexample,RutzbelievedthatPresidentBillClintonwouldusethepanicoverY2Kasanexcusetodeclaremartiallawandtakecontrolofthecountry.By1999,Rutzhadallegedlysoldfivelots,buthadmanylefttosell.Healsohopedtobuildanairstrip,ahospital,abuggyfactoryandvariousotherestablishments.

AfterY2Kcameandwentwithnocollapseormartiallaw,RutzreimaginedPrayerLakeasa

plannedcommunityforconservativeChristianswithoutthesurvivalistovertones.Asof2013,hewasstillhopingsomeonewouldhelphimbuildhisairstrip.

heritage farms 2000 (1998-2000, Sully County, South Dakota; Northern Arizona)

OneoftheY2Kcropofsurvivalistdevelopments,HeritageFarms2000wascreatedbyRussVorheesonlandheownedinSullyCounty,SouthDakota.In2008,Vorhees,aself-described“widelyreadsourceofinformationrelativetoprophesy,economicsand‘cataclysmicconvergences,’”beganofferingthosewhowantedtosurvivethecomingcollapseofcivilizationfive-yearleasesonhalf-acreplotsforonly$10,000.However,SullyCountingzoningofficialswerenotsupportiveoftheproject,norwerelocalresidents,andthecountyplanningcommissionrejectedVorhees’application.ThisdidnotstopVorhees,whoreimaginedtheprojectasHeritageWest2000ona250-acreplotofland,notionallydividedinto500½acrehomesites,190milesnortheastofPhoenix.“ThenewGoldenAgecanbeginrighthere,”Vorheespromised.However,bySeptember1999,HeritageWestwasonlyjuststartingtoacceptdeposits,whichdidnotleavemuchtimetomovein.Ofcourse,theMillenniumBugdidnot,infact,causethecollapseofcivilization,whichleftVorheesalittlebitinthelurch.Thoughhegamelytriedtorebrandhiseffortsasaregulardevelopmenteffort,itcametonothing.

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Terrene ark I (1980-1984, La Verkin, Utah)

OneofthemoreunusualearlyattemptsatasurvivalistplannedcommunitywasTerreneArkI,setnearthesmalltownofLaVerkin,Utah,whichhaslonghadanassociationwithright-wingextremism.ThebrainchildofRonBoutwellandLaneBlackmore,theArkwasaplanned240-unitcondominiumproject—setunderground.Purchaserswouldreceiveatinyfurnishedone-ortwo-bedroomundergroundapartmentwithblast-proofdoorsandoneormoreyears’worthoffood.“Onlygroupsurvivalallowsforpoolingofresourcesandacontinuingcohesivesocietyunit,”readoneprospectusforthedevelopment.“Youknowwhoyourfriendsare!The‘headforthehills’individualistorsmallgroupsareweakpreyofthedesperate…Onlygroupsurvivalcanprovidethenecessitiesofcivilizationsuchassecurity,organizedmilitia,”etc.Althoughitsorganizersreportedagreatdealofinterest,by1982theywerecomplainingofhavinga“hardtime”withhighinterestratesandsaidtheyhadtoputoffconstruction.Theprojectsputteredtoahaltby1984.“Wenevergotitofftheground,orintheground,sotospeak,”Blackmoresaidin1986.