Life New homeowner opens fallout shelter sealed since 1961

siberian khatru · 11-10-2013, 01:35 PM

New homeowner opens shelter sealed since 1961

MICHAEL BARNES Austin American-Statesman | Posted: Sunday, October 20, 2013 4:00 am

WEST LAKE HILLS — With effort, Craig Denham heaves open the heavy metal door.

He heads down the steep, thick concrete steps that are set in solid limestone. He takes a sharp left into the darkness, then another, before revealing an astounding time capsule preserved from the height of the Atomic Age.

In the backyard of the creative director's mid-century modern home in West Lake Hills is a 1961 fallout shelter in near-mint condition.

Two retractable cots hang from one wall in a cramped room that is illuminated by a single light bulb. Nearby is a crank for the air shaft; across the way are spigots for water stored in tanks.

In one corner is a low, odd-looking toilet sheltered behind a plastic shower curtain.

"Probably leads right into the aquifer," Denham, 44, joked to the Austin American-Statesman (http://bit.ly/1bFWNe3) before pointing out a disabled periscope near the stairwell. "Perfect for the zombie apocalypse if it comes."

Lined on shelves of the shelter — built by a retired Air Force colonel who was also something of an inventor — are supplies and equipment for surviving a week or two underground. That was the length of time civil defense officials estimated — at least for public consumption — necessary for radioactive fallout from a nuclear bomb to clear away.

Among the most chilling artifacts: a Texas highway map posted on the wall. The shelter owner had carefully drawn cross hairs over San Antonio — where U.S. military forces were concentrated — along with what appear to be trajectories for fallout drift. (Oddly, the lines fan out to the southeast, defying the prevailing Texas winds.)

"He was privy to information the public wasn't," Denham says of Col. E.V. Robnett Jr., who died in 1984. "And even he built one in his backyard. There must have been real concern with people's safety."

Lots more here: http://www.theeagle.com/news/texas/a...a4bcf887a.html

exchange - stop in time

keg in kc · 11-10-2013, 01:38 PM

I hope the zombie plague wasn't sealed inside, and he just unleashed it all on us unwittingly.

Frazod · 11-10-2013, 01:40 PM

I wonder if any of that food is still edible?

Fairplay · 11-10-2013, 01:41 PM

I came out of one of them in a Fallout game.

keg in kc · 11-10-2013, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

I wonder if any of that food is still edible?

[insert joke about wife's cooking]

Otter · 11-10-2013, 01:47 PM

That's a lot of tomato soup that takes up space. Said it before, if shit hits the fan you're nothing but a sitting duck inside one of those unless you're boss setup like Cheyenne mountain. Someone is going to stick a 5 gallon bucket or a tarp over your air intake and wait you out if they're hungry enough.

Think Genghis Khan and the Mongols if you want to survive. You know, those guys who were the only ones to conquer Russia and the rest of the east.

One of the most under appreciated times in history IMHO.

siberian khatru · 11-10-2013, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

I wonder if any of that food is still edible?

You first.

OrtonsPiercedTaint · 11-10-2013, 01:49 PM

Internet geek dream home. Rent that baby out.

siberian khatru · 11-10-2013, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrtonsPiercedTaint

Internet geek dream home. Rent that baby out.

I'm holding out for one of those old ICBM silos.

Frazod · 11-10-2013, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

You first.

That's okay, I already had lunch.

siberian khatru · 11-10-2013, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

That's okay, I already had lunch.

Let's get Mikey, he'll eat anything.

**notorious** · 11-10-2013, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

I'm holding out for one of those old ICBM silos.

God yes.

There is a massive one for sale east of Denver. Several million but it is amazing.

**notorious** · 11-10-2013, 02:12 PM

The previous owner should have ripped a huge fart in the shelter before closing the door for the last time.

**cdcox** · 11-10-2013, 02:15 PM

Looks like he found an Andy Warhol painting down there. Score!

Stewie · 11-10-2013, 02:20 PM

Gotta love the Dennis the Menace paper plates.

11-10-2013, 01:35 PM
siberian khatru 21st Century Schizoid Fan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Gates of Delirium Casino cash: $2554950	New homeowner opens fallout shelter sealed since 1961 New homeowner opens shelter sealed since 1961 MICHAEL BARNES Austin American-Statesman \| Posted: Sunday, October 20, 2013 4:00 am WEST LAKE HILLS — With effort, Craig Denham heaves open the heavy metal door. He heads down the steep, thick concrete steps that are set in solid limestone. He takes a sharp left into the darkness, then another, before revealing an astounding time capsule preserved from the height of the Atomic Age. In the backyard of the creative director's mid-century modern home in West Lake Hills is a 1961 fallout shelter in near-mint condition. Two retractable cots hang from one wall in a cramped room that is illuminated by a single light bulb. Nearby is a crank for the air shaft; across the way are spigots for water stored in tanks. In one corner is a low, odd-looking toilet sheltered behind a plastic shower curtain. "Probably leads right into the aquifer," Denham, 44, joked to the Austin American-Statesman (http://bit.ly/1bFWNe3) before pointing out a disabled periscope near the stairwell. "Perfect for the zombie apocalypse if it comes." Lined on shelves of the shelter — built by a retired Air Force colonel who was also something of an inventor — are supplies and equipment for surviving a week or two underground. That was the length of time civil defense officials estimated — at least for public consumption — necessary for radioactive fallout from a nuclear bomb to clear away. Among the most chilling artifacts: a Texas highway map posted on the wall. The shelter owner had carefully drawn cross hairs over San Antonio — where U.S. military forces were concentrated — along with what appear to be trajectories for fallout drift. (Oddly, the lines fan out to the southeast, defying the prevailing Texas winds.) "He was privy to information the public wasn't," Denham says of Col. E.V. Robnett Jr., who died in 1984. "And even he built one in his backyard. There must have been real concern with people's safety." Lots more here: http://www.theeagle.com/news/texas/a...a4bcf887a.html
Posts: 69,173

11-10-2013, 01:38 PM	#2
keg in kc oxymoron Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: OP/KC/Whatever Casino cash: $9556299	I hope the zombie plague wasn't sealed inside, and he just unleashed it all on us unwittingly.
Posts: 58,682

11-10-2013, 01:40 PM	#3
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $3135085	I wonder if any of that food is still edible?
Posts: 119,484

11-10-2013, 01:41 PM	#4
Fairplay A certain set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: texas Casino cash: $10026683 VARSITY	I came out of one of them in a Fallout game.
Posts: 25,265

11-10-2013, 01:49 PM	#8
OrtonsPiercedTaint MVP Join Date: Dec 2012 Casino cash: $10004980	Internet geek dream home. Rent that baby out.
Posts: 5,994

11-10-2013, 02:12 PM	#13
notorious Supporter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Who knows? Casino cash: $2935884	The previous owner should have ripped a huge fart in the shelter before closing the door for the last time.
Posts: 83,362

11-10-2013, 02:15 PM	#14
cdcox www.nfl-forecast.com Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $2351769	Looks like he found an Andy Warhol painting down there. Score!
Posts: 45,536

11-10-2013, 02:20 PM	#15
Stewie MVP Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West of the Equator Casino cash: $1919901	Gotta love the Dennis the Menace paper plates.
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