WEST VIRGINIA, USA — Tucked away in a secret location in West Virginia, the Fortitude Ranch is gearing up to welcome some members on Election Day over fears of widespread violence.
“Doomsday preppers, we’re not,” Steven Rene, the compound’s operations manager, said. "The problems that we're facing right now aren't going to go away, no matter who is elected."
Rene, a retired Army intelligence officer said Fortitude Ranch has everything needed to survive if the nation plunges into chaos.
The camp boasts solar energy, luxurious cabins for families, underground bunkers that can survive a blast and nuclear radiation, firearms and ammunition, along with enough food to last for decades.
The compound, in place for more than two years, is "activating" for the first time on Election Day. Members will be allowed on the property simply to hunker down starting Tuesday.
"We're not going to bed every night thinking that the world's ending," Rene said. "We just believe it's smart to prepare and have a place to go if things get really difficult here. It's not just about an election, there's much more to it than that."
With the unrest surrounding police brutality, the COVID-19 pandemic and now the election, Rene said there's been steady interest in Fortitude Ranch and its safety plan.
Along with this West Virginia location, there's another in Colorado; each can accommodate about 100 people.
Fortitude Ranch is adding more shelters to accommodate families. There's also a clinic on-site and they have contracts with local farmers for more food, should supplies run low.
“People can come and form a community that will help them be able to have safety in numbers, and then the ability for this to be long-term and sustainable,” Rene said.
He added that their members are doctors, lawyers, former military, police and everyday people. The basic membership costs $1,000 a year, which includes access to the camp for recreation purposes during more peaceful times.
