Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1187514
SiG MT 27 Google "bunker prepper montana" and you get "about 104,000 results" in .44 seconds—everything from "14 Best Underground Bunkers & Survival Shelters for Doomsday Events" to "underground bunkers near me." Some are off the grid, some are off the beaten path, and some are both. Prices range from under $200,000 to well into the millions. Signature Montana found one in Cascade County that's right near us for under $350,000. Built in 2014, it sits on over 90 acres and offers 624 square feet of living space, about the size of a large hotel suite. Actually, it sits under 90 acres and is accessed through a steel hatch and fixed ladder. e listing states: "Completely outfitted for up to six people, this subterranean abode can provide a safe and comfortable escape from just about any man-made or natural disaster. Possible owner financing with 40 percent down." And property taxes are just over $1,000. What's not to love? e roof is metal, the siding is metal, the foundation is steel. It's essentially a series of large diameter, corrugated steel culvert pipes: one brings you down to the living space, connecting with two larger pipes approximately 28 feet below ground. Diameter of the living area culvert is 12 feet, providing a standard, 8-foot ceiling. e entire structure was built by Utah Shelter Systems, loaded with furniture, fixtures, and cabinets, and transported to Cascade County. Travel to the mountaintop property by pickup truck is a bumpy ride. Moving two 18-wheel semis and a 75-ton crane up the mountain was tougher. One trailer hauled the 50' living space, totaling some 23,000 pounds. Living quarters include a queen bed plus four bunks, small office area, and utilitarian kitchen. Storage space lies beneath the beds and floors. A 39-foot pantry provides 116 feet of storage space for food and supplies. Most of the food, according to Meyer, has a 20-25 year shelf-life.