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| {{short description|Place of refuge for those in the survivalist subculture or movement}} | |||
| A '''retreat''' is a commonly used term for a place of refuge for those in the ] subculture or movement. Retreats are also sometimes called '''Bug-Out Locations (BOLs)'''. Survivalist retreats are intended to be self-sufficient and are generally located in lightly-populated rural areas. | |||
| ] sold to a survivalist group]] | |||
| In the ] ] or movement, a '''retreat'''<ref>Fergusson, Nialll, '''', Bloomberg Quint, September 6, 2020]</ref> is a place of refuge. Sometimes their retreats are called a '''bug-out location''' ('''BOL'''), a '''bunker''', or a '''bolt hole'''. Survivalist retreats are intended to be ] and easily defended. Generally, they are located in sparsely populated ] ]s. | |||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| While ]s have been advocated since the 1950s, dedicated self-sufficient survivalist retreats have been advocated only since the mid-1970s |
While ]s have been advocated since the 1950s, dedicated self-sufficient survivalist retreats have been advocated only since the mid-1970s. The survival retreat concept has been touted by a number of influential survivalist writers including ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].{{citation needed|date=December 2010}} Survivalists or "preppers" build these survivalist retreats to help them survive in the event of a disaster or simply "disappear," hence, the need for self-sufficiency.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Preppers & Survivalists: A Beginner's Guide|last=Bronsky|first=Dave|year=2016|isbn=978-8822858979|pages=1997}}</ref> | ||
| ===1960s=== | ===1960s=== | ||
| With the increasing inflation of the 1960s, the impending U.S. monetary ], the continuing concern with possible nuclear exchanges between the US and the ], and the increasing vulnerability of ] to supply shortages and other systems failures, a number of primarily ] and ] thinkers began suggesting that individual preparations would be wise. This was further reinforced by the effort on the part of the U.S. government to encourage the installation of bomb and fallout shelters in the United States after the ].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Survival Retreats: A Practical Guide to Creating a Sustainable, Defendable Refuge|last=Black|first=David|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.|year=2011|isbn=978-1616084172|location=New York|pages=19}}</ref> ] also began offering seminars in 1967 on how to survive a monetary collapse. He worked with Don Stephens, an architect, survival bookseller, and author, who provided input on how to build and equip a remote survival retreat. He provided a copy of his original ''Retreater's Bibliography'' (1967) for each seminar participant. | |||
| Articles on the subject appeared in such small-distribution libertarian publications as ''The Innovator'' and ''Atlantis Quarterly''. It was also from this period that Robert D. Kephart began publishing ''Inflation Survival Letter''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interesting.com/Robert-Kephart/ |title=Robert D. Kephart (1934–2004) |publisher=Interesting.com |access-date=2013-11-21}}</ref> (later renamed ''Personal Finance''). The newsletter included a continuing section on personal preparedness by Stephens for several years. It promoted expensive seminars around the US on the same cautionary topics. Stephens participated, along with James McKeever and other defensive investing, ] advocates. | |||
| With the increasing inflation of the 1960s and the impending US monetary ] (predicted by ] in his 1970 book ''How You Can Profit from the Coming Devaluation''), as well as the continuing concern with possible nuclear exchanges between the US and the Soviet Union, and the increasing vulnerability of urban centers to supply shortages and other systems failures, a number of primarily conservative and ] thinkers began suggesting that individual preparations would be wise. Mr. Browne began offering seminars on how to survive a monetary collapse in 1967, with ], an architectural design innovator, providing input on how to build and equip a remote survival retreat and providing a copy of his original ''Retreater's Bibliography''(1967) for each seminar participant. | |||
| Articles on the subject appeared in such small-distribution Libertarian publications as ''The Innovator'' and ''Atlantis Quarterly''. It was also from this period that Robert D. Kephart began publishing''Inflation Survival Letter'' <ref></ref>(later renamed ''Personal Finance''). The newsletter included a continuing section on personal preparedness by Stephens for several years. It promoted high-ticket seminars around the US on the same cautionary topics, in which Stephens participated, along with James McKeever and other defensive investing, "hard money" advocates. | |||
| ===1970s=== | ===1970s=== | ||
| In 1975, |
In 1975, Kurt Saxon began publishing a newsletter called ''The Survivor'', which advocated moving to lightly populated regions to "lie low" during a socio-economic collapse, and setting up fortified enclaves for defense against what he termed "killer caravans"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.textfiles.com/survival/caravans |title=The Killer Caravans |publisher=Textfiles.com |access-date=2013-11-21}}</ref><ref>{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> of looters from urban areas. | ||
| In 1976, |
In 1976, Don Stephens popularized the term "retreater" and advocated relocating to a rural retreat when society breaks down. | ||
| Writers such as |
Writers such as Howard Ruff warned about socio-economic collapse and recommended moving to lightly populated farming regions, most notably in his 1979 book ''How to Prosper During the Coming Bad Years'', a best-seller in 1979. | ||
| For a time in the 1970s, the terms "survivalist" and "retreater" were used interchangeably. |
For a time in the 1970s, the terms "survivalist" and "retreater" were used interchangeably. The term "retreater" eventually fell out of favor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aussurvivalist.com/whatissurvivalismsaxon.htm |title=What is Survivalism? |publisher=AusSurvivalist |date=2008-04-15 |access-date=2013-11-21}}</ref> This was attributed to the United States withdrawal from Vietnam, which led to the perception that the country was less at risk of being attacked.<ref name=":0" /> People began to become interested again as public paranoia intensified over the Soviet threat during Cold War period. | ||
| One of the most important newsletters on survivalism and survivalist retreats in the 1970s was the ''Personal Survival ("P.S.") Letter'' (c. 1977–1982) published by Mel Tappan, who also authored the books ''Survival Guns'' and ''Tappan on Survival''. The newsletter included columns from Tappan, as well from Jeff Cooper, Al J. Venter, Bill Pier, Bruce D. Clayton, Rick Fines, Nancy Mack Tappan, J. B. Wood, Dr. Carl Kirsch, Charles Avery, ], Eugene A. Barron, Janet Groene, ], Bob Taylor, ], C. G. Cobb, and several other writers, some under ]s. The majority of this newsletter revolved around selecting, constructing and logistically equipping survival retreats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.frfrogspad.com/persurv.htm |title=Magazine Articles By Jeff Cooper |publisher=Frfrogspad.com |access-date=2013-11-21}}</ref> Following Tappan's death in 1980, ] took over publishing the newsletter, eventually renaming it ''Survival Tomorrow''. | |||
| In addition to hard copy newsletters, in the 1970s survivalists got their first online presence with ]<ref></ref> and ] forums dedicated to survivalism and survival retreats. | |||
| ===1980s=== | ===1980s=== | ||
| Survivalist retreat books of the 1980s were typified by the 1980 book ''Life After Doomsday''<ref>''Life After Doomsday'', by Bruce D. Clayton, ], ISBN |
Survivalist retreat books of the 1980s were typified by the 1980 book ''Life After Doomsday''<ref>''Life After Doomsday'', by Bruce D. Clayton, ], {{ISBN|0-8037-4752-7}}</ref> by Bruce D. Clayton, advocating survival retreats in locales that would minimize ], as well as specially constructing ]s and/or ]s that would provide protection in the event of a ]. | ||
| ===1990s=== | ===1990s=== | ||
| Several books published in the 1990s offered advice on survival retreats and relocation. Some influential in survivalist circles are ''Survival Retreat: A Total Plan For Retreat Defense'' by |
Several books published in the 1990s offered advice on survival retreats and relocation. Some influential in survivalist circles are ''Survival Retreat: A Total Plan For Retreat Defense'' by Ragnar Benson, ''Strategic Relocation – North American Guide to Safe Places'' by ], and ''The Secure Home'', (also by Skousen). | ||
| ===2000 |
===2000 to present=== | ||
| In recent years, advocacy of survivalist retreats has had a strong resurgence after the ] attacks on the ] in ] in ] and |
In recent years, advocacy of survivalist retreats has had a strong resurgence after the ] on the ] in ] in 2001, the ] and ] in ], the ] in ], and the ] in ].{{citation needed|date=April 2012}} | ||
| Several |
Several books published since 2000 advocate survival retreats and relocation. Some that have been particularly influential in survivalist circles are ''How to Implement a High Security Shelter in the Home '' by Joel Skousen, ''Rawles on Retreats and Relocation'' by ], and ''Life After Terrorism: What You Need to Know to Survive in Today's World'' by Bruce D. Clayton.<ref></ref> | ||
| Economic troubles emerging from the credit collapse triggered by the 2007 U.S. ] have prompted a wider cross-section of the populace to modify their homes as well as establish dedicated survival retreats.<ref name=autogenerated2></ref> James Wesley Rawles, the editor of SurvivalBlog was quoted by the ''New York Times'' in April 2008 that "interest in the survivalist movement 'is experiencing its largest growth since the late 1970s'”. He also stated that his blog's conservative core readership has been supplemented with "an increasing number of stridently green and left-of-center readers."<ref name=autogenerated2 /> | |||
| Online survival websites, forums, and blogs discuss the best locales for survival retreats, how to build, fortify, and equip them, and how to form survivalist retreat groups.<ref></ref> | |||
| ==Necessity for retreats== | |||
| ] was quoted by then AP correspondent ] that: "The concept most fundamental to long term disaster preparedness, in retreating, is having a safe place to go to avoid the concentrated violence destined to erupt in the cities."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ar8RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=1781,1319693&dq=mel+tappan+arnett+having+a+safe+place+to+go+to+avoid+the+concentrated&hl=en |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507040150/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ar8RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=1781,1319693&dq=mel+tappan+arnett+having+a+safe+place+to+go+to+avoid+the+concentrated&hl=en |archive-date=2017-05-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
| ==Common retreat locale parameters== | ==Common retreat locale parameters== | ||
| Common retreat locale selection parameters include light population density, plentiful water, ], good solar exposure for gardening and ], situation above any flood plains, and a diverse and healthy local economy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.survivalblog.com/retreatareas.html#CONUS |title=SurvivalBlog.com |publisher=SurvivalBlog.com |access-date=2013-11-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202012637/http://www.survivalblog.com/retreatareas.html#CONUS |archive-date=2013-12-02 }}</ref> Fearing rioting, looting and other unrest, many survivalists advocate selecting retreat locales that are more than one tank of gasoline away from any major metropolitan region. Properties that are not in "channelized areas" or on anticipated "refugee lines of drift" are also touted.<ref>{{cite web|author=www.jollymoon.com |url=http://www.survivalblog.com/glossary.html |title=Glossary |publisher=Survivalblog.com |access-date=2013-11-21}}</ref> | |||
| One of the key goals of retreats is to be ] for the duration of societal collapse. |
One of the key goals of retreats is to be ] for the duration of ]. To that end, plentiful water and arable soil are paramount considerations. Beyond that, a priority is situation on isolated, defensible terrain. Typically, retreats do not want their habitations or structures jeopardized by being within line of sight of any major highway. | ||
| Because of its low population density and diverse economy, James Wesley Rawles <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.survivalblog.com/retreatareas.html |title=SurvivalBlog.com |publisher=SurvivalBlog.com |access-date=2013-11-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202012637/http://www.survivalblog.com/retreatareas.html |archive-date=2013-12-02 }}</ref> and Joel Skousen <ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221032024/http://www.joelskousen.com/About/about.html|date=December 21, 2007}}</ref> both recommend the ] region of the ] as a preferred region for relocation and setting up retreats. Although it has higher population density, Mel Tappan recommended southwestern ], where he lived,<ref name=autogenerated1></ref> primarily because it is not downwind of any envisioned nuclear targets in the United States. | |||
| Mel Tappan was disappointed by the demographics of southwestern Oregon after the survivalist influx of the late 1970s. "Too many doctors and lawyers" relocated to Oregon, and "not enough plumbers, electricians, or carpenters."<ref name=autogenerated1 /> | |||
| ===Evacuation to a retreat=== | |||
| While some survivalists recommend living at a rural retreat year-round,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.survivalblog.com/2006/02/the_selfsuffcient_retreat_and.html |title=The Self-Sufficient Retreat, and "Working the Kinks Out" |publisher=Survivalblog.com |date=2006-02-22 |access-date=2013-11-21}}</ref> most survivalists cannot afford to do so. Therefore, they rely on keeping a well-stocked retreat, and plan to go there "at the 11th hour", as necessary. They keep a ] handy, and may have a dedicated '''bug-out vehicle''' (BOV). This is a vehicle that the owner keeps prepared in the event of the need for an ]. Typically a BOV is equipped with a variation on the bug-out bag that includes additional automotive supplies, clothing, food, and water. ] tend to favor ]/] in particular such as ], ], ] and motorbikes such as ], ]/]s etc due to their greater off-road/handling abilities. Survivalists may opt into maintaining an older vehicle as they most likely lack critical electronic components that could be damaged by the ] that accompanies a nuclear explosion. | |||
| ==Retreat organization== | ==Retreat organization== | ||
| Most survivalist retreats are |
Most survivalist retreats are created by individuals and their families, but larger "group retreats" or "covenant communities" are formed along the lines of an ]. | ||
| ==Retreat architecture and security== | ==Retreat architecture and security== | ||
| Jeff Cooper popularized the concept of hardening retreats against ] fire. In an article entitled "Notes on Tactical Residential Architecture" in Issue #30 of P.S. Letter (April, 1982), Cooper suggested using the "] Principle", whereby projecting bastion corners would prevent miscreants from being able to approach a retreat's exterior walls in any blind spots. Corners with this simplified implementation of a ] are now called "Cooper Corners" by James Wesley Rawles, in honor of Jeff Cooper.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.survivalblog.com/2008/12/letter_re_home_invasion_robber.html |title=Letter Re: Home Invasion Robbery Countermeasures--Your Mindset and Architecture |publisher=Survivalblog.com |date=2008-12-30 |access-date=2013-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014012147/http://www.survivalblog.com/2008/12/letter_re_home_invasion_robber.html |archive-date=2012-10-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Depending on the size of the group needing shelter, design elements of traditional European ] architecture, as well as Chinese ] and Mexican walled courtyard houses have been suggested for survival retreats. | |||
| In both his book ''Rawles on Retreats and Relocation'' and in his survivalist novel, ''Patriots: |
In both his book ''Rawles on Retreats and Relocation'' and in his survivalist novel, '']'', Rawles describes in great detail retreat groups "]" brick or other masonry houses to that of a ] with steel reinforced window shutters and doors, excavating anti-vehicular ditches, installing ]s, constructing ] obstacles, and ]s, and setting up listening post/]s (LP/OPs.) Rawles is a proponent of including a ] foyer at survival retreats, an architectural element that he calls a "crushroom".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://survivalblog.com/the_meme_of_crushroom_a_key_re/ |title=The Meme of Crushroom: A Key Retreat Architecture Element |publisher=Survivalblog.com |date=2009-06-26 |access-date=2013-11-21}}</ref> | ||
| Both Bruce D. Clayton and Joel Skousen have written extensively on integrating fallout shelters into retreat homes, but they put less emphasis on ballistic protection and exterior perimeter security than Cooper and Rawles. | |||
| ==Retreat logistics== | ==Retreat logistics== | ||
| Anticipating long periods of time without commerce in the future, retreat groups typically place a strong emphasis on logistics. |
Anticipating long periods of time without commerce in the future, as well as observing documented history, retreat groups typically place a strong emphasis on logistics. They amass stockpiles of supplies for their own use, for charity, and for ]. Frequently cited key logistics for a retreat include long-term storage food, common caliber ammunition, medical supplies, tools, gardening seed, and fuel. In an article entitled "Ballistic Wampum" in Issue #6 of P.S. Letter (1979) Jeff Cooper wrote about stockpiling ammunition far in excess of his own needs, keeping the extra available to use for bartering. | ||
| In their books, Joel Skousen, Mel Tappan, and Howard Ruff all emphasize the need to have a one-year supply of storage food. | |||
| In his books and in his blog (SurvivalBlog), ] uses the generic term "beans, bullets and Band Aids" to describe retreat logistics.<ref></ref> | |||
| Mainstream economist and financial adviser Barton Biggs is a proponent of well-stocked retreats. In his 2008 book ''Wealth, War, and Wisdom'', Biggs has a gloomy outlook for the economic future, and suggests that investors take ] measures. In the book, Biggs recommends that his readers should “assume the possibility of a breakdown of the civilized infrastructure.” He goes so far as to recommend setting up survival retreats: “Your safe haven must be self-sufficient and capable of growing some kind of food,” Mr. Biggs writes. “It should be well-stocked with seed, fertilizer, canned food, wine, medicine, clothes, etc. Think ]. Even in America and Europe there could be moments of riot and rebellion when law and order temporarily breaks down.”<ref name=autogenerated2 /> | |||
| In their books, Joel Skousen, ] and ] all emphasize the need to have a one year supply of storage food. Rawles recommends a two year supply, as well as storing non-hybrid (]) gardening seed. | |||
| Even mainstream economist and financial adviser ] is a proponent of well-stocked retreats. In his 2008 book ''Wealth, War and Wisdom'', Biggs has a gloomy outlook for the economic future, and suggests that investors take ] measures. In the book, Biggs recommends that his readers should “assume the possibility of a breakdown of the civilized infrastructure.” he goes so far as to recommend setting up survival retreats: “Your safe haven must be self-sufficient and capable of growing some kind of food,” Mr. Biggs writes. “It should be well-stocked with seed, fertilizer, canned food, wine, medicine, clothes, etc. Think Swiss Family Robinson. Even in America and Europe there could be moments of riot and rebellion when law and order temporarily completely breaks down.”<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/fashion/06survival.html</ref> | |||
| ==Survivalist retreats worldwide== | ==Survivalist retreats worldwide== | ||
| Survivalist retreats, both formal and informal exist worldwide, most visibly in Australia,<ref>{{cite web|last=Donaldson |first=Janaia |url=http://www.energybulletin.net/node/22852 |title=Head for the hills - the new survivalists |publisher=Energybulletin.net |date=2006-11-23 |access-date=2013-11-21}}</ref> Belgium, Canada,<ref>Gazette, The. (2008-11-05) . Canada.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-14.</ref> France,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://le-projet-olduvai.kanak.fr/ |title=Faire face aux risques et aux situations de crise |publisher=Le-projet-olduvai.kanak.fr |access-date=2013-11-21}}</ref> Germany<ref>Pancevski, Bojan. (2007-06-17) . Telegraph. Retrieved on 2010-11-14.</ref> (often organized under the guise of "adventuresport" clubs),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dmoz.org/World/Deutsch/Freizeit/Outdoor/Survival/ |title=Open Directory - World: Deutsch: Freizeit: Outdoor: Survival |publisher=Dmoz.org |access-date=2013-11-21}}</ref> New Zealand,<ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026111657/http://www.thebugoutbagguide.com/survivalism-new-zealand/ |date=October 26, 2014 }}</ref> Norway,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dn.no/d2/article1550375.ece |title=Klar for dommedag |publisher=DN.no |access-date=2013-11-21}}</ref> Sweden,<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101160816/http://swedishsurvivalist.egensajt.se/forum/|date=November 1, 2010}}</ref> and the United States.<ref name=autogenerated2/> | |||
| ==Government operated retreats== | |||
| Survivalist retreats, both formal and informal are popular worldwide, most visibly in Australia, <ref></ref>, Canada<ref></ref>, France<ref></ref>, Sweden<ref></ref>,New Zealand and the United States<ref></ref>. | |||
| Construction of government-built retreats, ] and underground shelters—roughly analogous to survivalist retreats—has been done extensively since the advent of the ], especially of public nuclear ] in many nations. The ] government has created ] (COG) shelters built by the ] and ] ("FEMA"). These include the massive shelter built under the ] (aka ]), military facilities such as ], and the ], and ] sites. Facilities in other nations include the ] and its dual use facilities such as the ] and Norway's ] bunker in ] County. | |||
| == |
==Further reading== | ||
| *'']'' (1961)<ref></ref> | |||
| ===Novels=== | |||
| *'']'' by ] (1979, updated 1987 version) {{ISBN|0-942487-01-X}} | |||
| *'']'' (1950)<ref></ref> | |||
| ] featured survivalist retreats in some of his science fiction. '']'' (1964) begins as a story of small group survivalist retreat in a nuclear war. Heinlein also wrote essays such as ''How to be a Survivor''<ref></ref> which provide advice on preparing for and surviving a nuclear war, including stocking a fallout shelter and retreat. | |||
| *''Tappan on Survival'' by Mel Tappan (1981) {{ISBN|0-916172-04-X}} <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/mark_l_anderson/faqs/tapp.txt |title=Tappan on Survival |author=Mel Tappan |publisher=Webcitation.org |access-date=2013-11-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090915223317/http://www.geocities.com/mark_l_anderson/faqs/tapp.txt |archive-date=September 15, 2009 }}</ref> | |||
| *] archive of articles that circulated online during the ] era, includes several Kurt Saxon articles from his old newsletter: | |||
| '']'' by ] writer ] (1972) describes refurbishing a medieval castle, and its use as a survivalist stronghold in the aftermath of a full-scale nuclear war. The novel was adapted into a 1981 film directed by Christian de Chalonge and starring ], ], ] and ] . | |||
| '']'' by ] and ] (1977) is about a cataclysmic comet hitting the Earth, and a group people struggling to survive the aftermath in southern California. Their retreat is an isolated mountain community, which they barricade from outsiders. | |||
| ''Pulling Through'' by ] (1983) is a novel that includes considerable detail on fallout shelter architecture and radiation effects. | |||
| '']'' by ] (1985) is set in a time after a pandemic plague and political fracture result in a complete collapse of society. Both the Holnists and the townsmen construct fortified retreats. | |||
| ''Wolf and Iron'' (1990) by ] describes a systemic societal collapse. The main character "GeeBee" builds and stocks and earth-sheltered retreat, using salvaged materials. | |||
| ''Patriots: Surviving the Coming Collapse'' by ] (1998) (the editor of SurvivalBlog) is a novel about a full-scale socio-economic collapse and subsequent invasion of the US, which a review called "a survival manual dressed as fiction." | |||
| ===Television programs=== | |||
| '']'' (2006) is a TV series that portrays a small town in ] after a series of nuclear explosions across the United States. In the series, the character ] uses his prior planning and survival skills in preparation of the attacks. Most of the episodes center around the sudden collapse of American society resulting in a six way split of the country. The town usually must fight an outside enemy in order to preserve their food and supplies. | |||
| The BBC TV series ] from 1975-1977 suggested a UK view of survivalism with a small band of survivors emerging from a biological apocalypse. Following the success of the new series of Dr Who the BBC are rumoured to be looking at Terry Nation's other works and are considering a remake of the show.<ref></ref> | |||
| '']'' (2008) is a ] show involving time travel with lead characters that take survivalist steps to prepare for, or possibly prevent, a future nuclear war. Some of the characters could definitely be described as a survivalists, and have survival retreat organizations. | |||
| ===Films=== | |||
| The 1962 movie ''Panic in the Year Zero'' starring ], ], ] and Mary Mitchel portrays the Baldwin family's flight from the Los Angeles area to a cave in a rural location after a nuclear war between the US and the USSR.<ref></ref> | |||
| The 1970 movie ''No Blade of Grass'' starring ], based on the book by ], features a group of famine survivors attempting to reach a survivalist retreat that is owned by one of the main character's brother.<ref></ref> | |||
| The 1983 movie ] is a parody of a group survival retreat, starring ] and ].<ref></ref> | |||
| In the '']'' film and television franchise the character Burt Gummer (]) is a self-admitted survivalist. In the first film he and his wife are preparing for social upheaval and have set up their home as a semi-fortified survivalist retreat. | |||
| '']'', a movie based upon the above mentioned novel, depicts a post-apocalyptic future in America in which a survivalist militia preys on weaker communities. Some of these communities are organized and barricaded as large-scale retreats. | |||
| In ], a global oil shortage causes a total socioeconomic collapse and depopulation. The few scattered survivors in the ] are depicted fighting for survival, with precious "guzzoline" as their main object. The protagonist survivors are forced to flee their retreat when it is attacked by a large gang of mechanized looters. | |||
| In ], the "Gyropilot" character played by ] has an underground retreat with a secret entrance trapdoor beneath a railroad track. | |||
| In '']'' John Connor's mother, ] stores weapons in an underground shelter in the desert, as instructed by ], John's father, in preparation for an apocalypse precipitated by computerized machines. | |||
| In '']'' John Connor and his wife-to-be flee to a semi-abandoned 1960s-vintage deep underground ] shelter just before a nuclear attack precipitated by computerized machines. | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| *] | * ] | ||
| *] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | * ] | ||
| *] | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{ |
{{Reflist}} | ||
| ==Further reading== | |||
| The text of some books discussing survivalist retreats can be found online: | |||
| *] (1961)<ref></ref> | |||
| *'']'' by ] (1979, updated 1987 version) ISBN 0-942487-01-X | |||
| *] (1950) <ref></ref> | |||
| *''Tappan on Survival'' by ] (1981) ISBN 0-916172-04-X <ref></ref> | |||
| *Textfiles.com archive of articles that circulated online during the ] era, includes several Kurt Saxon articles from his old newsletter: | |||
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Latest revision as of 07:16, 7 December 2024
Place of refuge for those in the survivalist subculture or movement
In the survivalist subculture or movement, a retreat is a place of refuge. Sometimes their retreats are called a bug-out location (BOL), a bunker, or a bolt hole. Survivalist retreats are intended to be self-sufficient and easily defended. Generally, they are located in sparsely populated outback rural areas.
History
While fallout shelters have been advocated since the 1950s, dedicated self-sufficient survivalist retreats have been advocated only since the mid-1970s. The survival retreat concept has been touted by a number of influential survivalist writers including Ragnar Benson, Robert K. Brown, Barton Biggs, Bruce D. Clayton, Jeff Cooper, Cresson Kearny, James Wesley Rawles, Howard Ruff, Kurt Saxon, Joel Skousen, Don Stephens, Mel Tappan, and Nancy Tappan. Survivalists or "preppers" build these survivalist retreats to help them survive in the event of a disaster or simply "disappear," hence, the need for self-sufficiency.
1960s
With the increasing inflation of the 1960s, the impending U.S. monetary devaluation, the continuing concern with possible nuclear exchanges between the US and the Soviet Union, and the increasing vulnerability of urban centers to supply shortages and other systems failures, a number of primarily conservative and libertarian thinkers began suggesting that individual preparations would be wise. This was further reinforced by the effort on the part of the U.S. government to encourage the installation of bomb and fallout shelters in the United States after the Cuban Missile Crisis. Harry Browne also began offering seminars in 1967 on how to survive a monetary collapse. He worked with Don Stephens, an architect, survival bookseller, and author, who provided input on how to build and equip a remote survival retreat. He provided a copy of his original Retreater's Bibliography (1967) for each seminar participant.
Articles on the subject appeared in such small-distribution libertarian publications as The Innovator and Atlantis Quarterly. It was also from this period that Robert D. Kephart began publishing Inflation Survival Letter (later renamed Personal Finance). The newsletter included a continuing section on personal preparedness by Stephens for several years. It promoted expensive seminars around the US on the same cautionary topics. Stephens participated, along with James McKeever and other defensive investing, hard currency advocates.
1970s
In 1975, Kurt Saxon began publishing a newsletter called The Survivor, which advocated moving to lightly populated regions to "lie low" during a socio-economic collapse, and setting up fortified enclaves for defense against what he termed "killer caravans" of looters from urban areas.
In 1976, Don Stephens popularized the term "retreater" and advocated relocating to a rural retreat when society breaks down.
Writers such as Howard Ruff warned about socio-economic collapse and recommended moving to lightly populated farming regions, most notably in his 1979 book How to Prosper During the Coming Bad Years, a best-seller in 1979.
For a time in the 1970s, the terms "survivalist" and "retreater" were used interchangeably. The term "retreater" eventually fell out of favor. This was attributed to the United States withdrawal from Vietnam, which led to the perception that the country was less at risk of being attacked. People began to become interested again as public paranoia intensified over the Soviet threat during Cold War period.
One of the most important newsletters on survivalism and survivalist retreats in the 1970s was the Personal Survival ("P.S.") Letter (c. 1977–1982) published by Mel Tappan, who also authored the books Survival Guns and Tappan on Survival. The newsletter included columns from Tappan, as well from Jeff Cooper, Al J. Venter, Bill Pier, Bruce D. Clayton, Rick Fines, Nancy Mack Tappan, J. B. Wood, Dr. Carl Kirsch, Charles Avery, Karl Hess, Eugene A. Barron, Janet Groene, Dean Ing, Bob Taylor, Reginald Bretnor, C. G. Cobb, and several other writers, some under pen names. The majority of this newsletter revolved around selecting, constructing and logistically equipping survival retreats. Following Tappan's death in 1980, Karl Hess took over publishing the newsletter, eventually renaming it Survival Tomorrow.
1980s
Survivalist retreat books of the 1980s were typified by the 1980 book Life After Doomsday by Bruce D. Clayton, advocating survival retreats in locales that would minimize fallout, as well as specially constructing blast shelters and/or fallout shelters that would provide protection in the event of a nuclear war.
1990s
Several books published in the 1990s offered advice on survival retreats and relocation. Some influential in survivalist circles are Survival Retreat: A Total Plan For Retreat Defense by Ragnar Benson, Strategic Relocation – North American Guide to Safe Places by Joel Skousen, and The Secure Home, (also by Skousen).
2000 to present
In recent years, advocacy of survivalist retreats has had a strong resurgence after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City in 2001, the 2002 attacks and 2005 attacks in Bali, the 2004 Madrid train bombings in Spain, and the 2005 public transportation bombings in London.
Several books published since 2000 advocate survival retreats and relocation. Some that have been particularly influential in survivalist circles are How to Implement a High Security Shelter in the Home by Joel Skousen, Rawles on Retreats and Relocation by James Wesley Rawles, and Life After Terrorism: What You Need to Know to Survive in Today's World by Bruce D. Clayton.
Economic troubles emerging from the credit collapse triggered by the 2007 U.S. subprime mortgage crisis have prompted a wider cross-section of the populace to modify their homes as well as establish dedicated survival retreats. James Wesley Rawles, the editor of SurvivalBlog was quoted by the New York Times in April 2008 that "interest in the survivalist movement 'is experiencing its largest growth since the late 1970s'”. He also stated that his blog's conservative core readership has been supplemented with "an increasing number of stridently green and left-of-center readers."
Necessity for retreats
Mel Tappan was quoted by then AP correspondent Peter Arnett that: "The concept most fundamental to long term disaster preparedness, in retreating, is having a safe place to go to avoid the concentrated violence destined to erupt in the cities."
Common retreat locale parameters
Common retreat locale selection parameters include light population density, plentiful water, arable land, good solar exposure for gardening and photovoltaics, situation above any flood plains, and a diverse and healthy local economy. Fearing rioting, looting and other unrest, many survivalists advocate selecting retreat locales that are more than one tank of gasoline away from any major metropolitan region. Properties that are not in "channelized areas" or on anticipated "refugee lines of drift" are also touted.
One of the key goals of retreats is to be self-sufficient for the duration of societal collapse. To that end, plentiful water and arable soil are paramount considerations. Beyond that, a priority is situation on isolated, defensible terrain. Typically, retreats do not want their habitations or structures jeopardized by being within line of sight of any major highway.
Because of its low population density and diverse economy, James Wesley Rawles and Joel Skousen both recommend the Intermountain West region of the United States as a preferred region for relocation and setting up retreats. Although it has higher population density, Mel Tappan recommended southwestern Oregon, where he lived, primarily because it is not downwind of any envisioned nuclear targets in the United States.
Mel Tappan was disappointed by the demographics of southwestern Oregon after the survivalist influx of the late 1970s. "Too many doctors and lawyers" relocated to Oregon, and "not enough plumbers, electricians, or carpenters."
Evacuation to a retreat
While some survivalists recommend living at a rural retreat year-round, most survivalists cannot afford to do so. Therefore, they rely on keeping a well-stocked retreat, and plan to go there "at the 11th hour", as necessary. They keep a bug-out bag handy, and may have a dedicated bug-out vehicle (BOV). This is a vehicle that the owner keeps prepared in the event of the need for an emergency evacuation. Typically a BOV is equipped with a variation on the bug-out bag that includes additional automotive supplies, clothing, food, and water. Survivalists tend to favor ATV/Off-road vehicles in particular such as four wheel drive, pickup trucks, SUVs and motorbikes such as Streetfighters, Enduros/Supermotos etc due to their greater off-road/handling abilities. Survivalists may opt into maintaining an older vehicle as they most likely lack critical electronic components that could be damaged by the electromagnetic pulse that accompanies a nuclear explosion.
Retreat organization
Most survivalist retreats are created by individuals and their families, but larger "group retreats" or "covenant communities" are formed along the lines of an intentional community.
Retreat architecture and security
Jeff Cooper popularized the concept of hardening retreats against small arms fire. In an article entitled "Notes on Tactical Residential Architecture" in Issue #30 of P.S. Letter (April, 1982), Cooper suggested using the "Vauban Principle", whereby projecting bastion corners would prevent miscreants from being able to approach a retreat's exterior walls in any blind spots. Corners with this simplified implementation of a Vauban Star are now called "Cooper Corners" by James Wesley Rawles, in honor of Jeff Cooper. Depending on the size of the group needing shelter, design elements of traditional European castle architecture, as well as Chinese Fujian Tulou and Mexican walled courtyard houses have been suggested for survival retreats.
In both his book Rawles on Retreats and Relocation and in his survivalist novel, Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse, Rawles describes in great detail retreat groups "upgrading" brick or other masonry houses to that of a blockhouse with steel reinforced window shutters and doors, excavating anti-vehicular ditches, installing warded gate locks, constructing concertina wire obstacles, and fougasses, and setting up listening post/observation posts (LP/OPs.) Rawles is a proponent of including a mantrap foyer at survival retreats, an architectural element that he calls a "crushroom".
Both Bruce D. Clayton and Joel Skousen have written extensively on integrating fallout shelters into retreat homes, but they put less emphasis on ballistic protection and exterior perimeter security than Cooper and Rawles.
Retreat logistics
Anticipating long periods of time without commerce in the future, as well as observing documented history, retreat groups typically place a strong emphasis on logistics. They amass stockpiles of supplies for their own use, for charity, and for barter. Frequently cited key logistics for a retreat include long-term storage food, common caliber ammunition, medical supplies, tools, gardening seed, and fuel. In an article entitled "Ballistic Wampum" in Issue #6 of P.S. Letter (1979) Jeff Cooper wrote about stockpiling ammunition far in excess of his own needs, keeping the extra available to use for bartering.
In their books, Joel Skousen, Mel Tappan, and Howard Ruff all emphasize the need to have a one-year supply of storage food.
Mainstream economist and financial adviser Barton Biggs is a proponent of well-stocked retreats. In his 2008 book Wealth, War, and Wisdom, Biggs has a gloomy outlook for the economic future, and suggests that investors take survivalist measures. In the book, Biggs recommends that his readers should “assume the possibility of a breakdown of the civilized infrastructure.” He goes so far as to recommend setting up survival retreats: “Your safe haven must be self-sufficient and capable of growing some kind of food,” Mr. Biggs writes. “It should be well-stocked with seed, fertilizer, canned food, wine, medicine, clothes, etc. Think Swiss Family Robinson. Even in America and Europe there could be moments of riot and rebellion when law and order temporarily breaks down.”
Survivalist retreats worldwide
Survivalist retreats, both formal and informal exist worldwide, most visibly in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany (often organized under the guise of "adventuresport" clubs), New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and the United States.
Government operated retreats
Construction of government-built retreats, security compounds and underground shelters—roughly analogous to survivalist retreats—has been done extensively since the advent of the Cold War, especially of public nuclear fallout shelters in many nations. The United States government has created Continuity of Government (COG) shelters built by the Department of Defense and Federal Emergency Management Agency ("FEMA"). These include the massive shelter built under the Greenbrier hotel (aka Project Greek Island), military facilities such as Cheyenne Mountain Complex, and the Raven Rock Mountain Complex, and Mount Weather sites. Facilities in other nations include the Swiss redoubt fortress system and its dual use facilities such as the Sonnenberg Tunnel and Norway's Sentralanlegget bunker in Buskerud County.
Further reading
- Fallout Protection (1961)
- Nuclear War Survival Skills by Cresson Kearny (1979, updated 1987 version) ISBN 0-942487-01-X
- Survival Under Atomic Attack (1950)
- Tappan on Survival by Mel Tappan (1981) ISBN 0-916172-04-X
- Textfiles.com archive of articles that circulated online during the BBS era, includes several Kurt Saxon articles from his old newsletter: Article archives
See also
References
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