The tragic story of this YouTuber's 'doomsday' bunker

Contractor killed at YouTuber's converted missile silo

When survivalist YouTuber Andrew Flair bought an abandoned Cold War missile silo in York, Nebraska in September 2022, he did so to fulfil a life-long dream of owning what he called the "ultimate doomsday preppers' paradise".

Tragically, a contractor hired by Flair to renovate the underground bunker was killed while working at the property in December 2022. Joseph M Arkfeld, a retired electrician, was found dead by his son-in-law after being crushed between the silo's entrance door and its concrete frame.

Now, Arkfeld's widow has brought a lawsuit against the vlogger. Click or scroll on to find out more...

Deadly entry door alleged to be 'defective'

Mary Arkfeld filed the lawsuit against Flair and three of his companies in August 2023, accusing the social media star of negligence, according to the Omaha World-Herald.

The lawsuit alleges that the entry door had a defect, which caused her husband's death. To open the steel mechanical door (pictured), the lawsuit states that you have to manipulate an "unnecessary and unreasonable combination of metal rods, jumper cables, a car battery, a super winch 2500, a pulley system, various hooks, and a rusted stairway railing", KHGI Nebraska TV reported.

While Arkfeld had worked at the property twice before, this was reportedly the first time he had been left alone there. He had been given instructions to lock the door when he left but, according to the lawsuit, the instructions were "inadequate". 

Andrew Flair faces negligence lawsuit

On 3 November 2023, Flair issued a statement through his lawyer.

“Andrew and his family were saddened by the tragic passing of Mr (Joseph) Arkfeld last December. Due to the ongoing legal proceedings, he is not able to comment further at this time,” the statement read, according to the York News-Times.

The defendants have denied "most" of the allegations and a motion to dismiss the lawsuit has been filed, KHGI Nebraska TV reports.

A hearing is scheduled to be held on 14 December.

A building with a tragic history

Flair has previously claimed that the silo was the site of at least one other death. 

“There was a murder narcotics case where supposedly they put the body inside of the silo," he said in one of his videos. "They dove down looking for the body, and they couldn't get down there because of the debris... I talked to the law enforcement officers, and they’re positive it’s in there, they just can’t get down into it.”

This prompted Flair and his friends to use an underwater drone to explore the bottom of a submerged section of the silo.

Spooky underwater search

Flair used the submersible, which is effective to a depth of 328 feet, to scour the silo floor, utilising its powerful light and a video feed to navigate the submerged debris.

Despite investigators allegedly telling the YouTuber that they were "99.9 percent sure" there was a body down there, he was unable to get beyond the enormous amount of debris languishing at the bottom of the silo. So, the mystery continues.

While some areas of the silo are untouched from its Cold War heyday, other parts are virtually unrecognisable after Flair put his own spin on the subterranean space. 

Read on to take a look at Flair's incredible bunker renovation...

READ MORE: Inside the social media star's transformed Cold War bunker

Andrew Flair bought the abandoned Cold War bunker back in September 2022, due to rising geopolitical unrest and the burgeoning threat of nuclear war after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

After a painstaking renovation to take the bunker from a wartime relic to a cosy hideout, Flair opted to flip the property and listed it for $750,000 (£594k) in June 2023. However, it's since been removed from the market, four months after the negligence lawsuit was filed.

Meet Flair

Flair has made quite the name for himself as a survivalist YouTuber, popular for his expertise on all things huntin’ and fishin’. With more than 2.7 million YouTube followers and almost 750,000 Instagram followers, he has built a substantial and lucrative public platform off of his videos, most of which feature advice on hunting and farming.

In September 2022, Flair announced on his channels that, in light of heightened tensions across the world, he had purchased an abandoned missile silo in his home state of Nevada.

An unexpected find

Situated in the small city of York, the missile silo was placed on the market in July 2022, with an asking price of $550,000 (£435k).

Many were surprised to discover that Nevada was once home to dormant thermonuclear warheads, including listing agents Mike and Polly Figueroa.

“We weren’t even aware they were around here,” Mr Figueroa told Realtor.

Rare real estate gem

This particular silo was unusual not only for its location but because it was partially kitted out for habitation.

Most abandoned bunkers are in need of significant renovations to make them livable, having sat dormant for decades. However, while the silo's accommodation was rustic and had been neglected over the years, the living quarters were already equipped with heating, electricity, running hot and cold water and a makeshift kitchen.

Going viral

It’s no great wonder that the property drew substantial attention, attracting hundreds of thousands of clicks and landing as Realtor’s ‘most popular home’ the week it was listed.

After only 12 days on the market, Flair had already signed on to purchase the bunker, describing it in one of his videos as “an unmissable opportunity”, sharing that it had always been his dream to own a survivalist property. 

Missile no more

After sealing the deal, Flair explored the bunker and its numerous surprising features in a series of videos on his channel. The YouTuber joked about his disappointment upon discovering that the 6.19-acre decommissioned Atlas-F missile complex no longer contains the ICBM – one of America’s first missile breeds – it was originally constructed to store.

Plenty of space

However, what the property may lack in missiles it certainly makes up for in survivalist bonus features. Constructed from reinforced concrete walls measuring two-and-a-half feet thick at the bottom and up to nine feet thick on top, the bunker itself is sunk 174 feet underground.

As well as the missile chamber, the bunker features a two-storey former underground launch command centre, encompassing 1,256 square feet per floor.

Top-notch security

The bunker was, of course, originally constructed to withstand a nuclear attack, making it the ideal fallout shelter for anyone anxious about Vladimir Putin’s escalating threats.

The facility is entered via a ground-level port, which then leads down a flight of steps and into the shelter's main living area. Located down another flight of steps, the bunker’s second level was unfinished when Flair purchased the property and includes a 40-foot tunnel leading to the silo itself.

Ready for anything

In case of emergency, the silo is equipped to provide both maximum security and resources for long-term habitation. In addition to heat and electricity, the bunker boasts four 500-gallon water storage tanks fed by an on-site well. The entire enclosure is secured by a set of enormous launch doors weighing more than 50 tonnes.

Soft surroundings

While it might not necessarily be everyone’s dream home, the bunker’s living quarters, formerly the first level of the launch command centre, were at least furnished in an effort to make the space as cosy as possible.

When Flair first snapped up the silo, the open-plan living space included two beds, a dining area, a TV set and multiple dressers for storage.

Dining in safety

There was also an improvised kitchen area equipped with a refrigerator, microwave and microwave oven, suitable for feeding a family during the end times, though there was no information on the listing as to the bunker’s food storage facilities. Still, it’s rare to find an abandoned Cold War bunker that comes with an operational kitchen.

Anyone for a dip?

Another unexpected surprise was the bathtub. Though this battered old relic looked as though it may have withstood more than one nuclear blast in its day, the tub was still fully operational with running hot and cold water, allowing residents a little bit of luxury during an unsettled stay. 

A secret escape tunnel

To Flair's great excitement, which he shared with his many viewers, the missile silo also included an escape hatch, enabling inhabitants to flee the bunker and climb back up to the surface should the main entrance be disabled after a nuclear explosion.

Flair and his team also discovered a mysterious secondary tunnel full of water, which he planned to investigate further to see if it was still usable. 

Down the hatch

As Flair later found out, the escape hatch is still operational, though it was in need of a few repairs, as it had not been maintained since the property was originally constructed in the 1960s.

Flair added the hatch to the long list of renovations and improvements he had planned for the bunker, which he intended to turn into a doomsday home-away-from-home for himself, his family and his friends to use should the need arise. The ambitious project has since been completed, so let's take a look around... 

A remarkable makeover

In just five months, Flair transformed the first level of the silo's former launch command centre into a remarkable modern living space packed with amenities for a comfortable stay below ground.

An original feature of the Atlas-F missile complex, the concrete conical funnel in the heart of the room has been given a vibrant yellow and black makeover.  

Creature comforts

The walls were painted a crisp white and new wood flooring was installed throughout the main living area. Surprisingly bright and airy for a subterranean space, creature comforts were added, such as a cosy L-shaped sofa.

He also added a gleaming contemporary kitchen. Because of the unconventional, circular proportions of the room, kitchen walls were framed to provide a flat surface for the kitchen cabinetry installation.

Flair uses the space as a 'man cave' of sorts, for hanging out with his friends. In fact, following the renovation, Flair and his pals hunkered down together in the bunker for 24 hours, documenting their stay on his YouTube channel.

High-tech additions

While there's no separate bedroom in the missile silo, there is a double bunkbed, which looks far comfier than the standard bunks you usually find in an underground shelter.

There's also a desk and workstation in the main living zone and, remarkably, the hideout is even fully equipped with Wi-Fi and Starlink – SpaceX's satellite internet. This Cold War relic has certainly come a long way since the 1960s.

New facilities

Before the renovation, the bunker may have had running water and a strangely positioned bathtub, but it didn't have a private, enclosed bathroom.

As part of their extensive overhaul, Flair and his team framed stud walls for a new bathroom, complete with modern fixtures, a toilet, basin, storage and a luxurious walk-in shower.

Playful extras

The old launch command centre has plenty of playful amenities that Flair and his friends must have enjoyed when they decided to delve underground. Pictured here is the projector screen for watching movies and playing video games, alongside a popcorn machine – the perfect accompaniment to the latest blockbuster.

We didn't think an old missile silo could look this good!

A tricky sell?

Given all the hard work Flair has put into transforming the bunker into a stylish, liveable space, it was a surprise when he listed it for sale in June 2023 for $750,000 (£594k).

Despite the booming market for survivalist facilities, it seems a new owner couldn't be found – perhaps the pending lawsuit has dissuaded buyers, or maybe Flair simply changed his mind about letting go of this unique piece of prepper real estate after all. Whatever the truth, the property listing was taken down in June 2023.

We wonder what the future holds for this unusual hideout and how the legal battle that's recently engulfed it will play out...

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