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The luxurious Titan II nuclear missile facility in Vilonia, Arkansas, doesn’t look like much from the air, but that’s probably why it’s so important. Why build a nuclear bunker that the enemy can easily find? But 50 feet underground lies a very special Airbnb that has been transformed from an abandoned piece of history into a luxury vacation home.
We took a trip to Arkansas to find out if this luxury doomsday bunker deserves to be ranked in the top 5% of Airbnbs worldwide. Spoiler alert, but it definitely was. Today we’ll be giving you a complete tour of the bunker, digging into its World War II-era history and revealing all the details about what really happened on your bunker vacation.
are you ready?
Where did this bunker come from?
During World War II, the United States built 64 Titan 2 missile bunkers across the United States, including this bunker in Arkansas. Each bunker contained a nine-megaton nuclear warhead that could be deployed within 58 seconds from its underground hiding place and hit targets up to 6,000 miles away.
These missiles were intended to be used only if the United States was bombed first, so each bunker was constructed to withstand a nuclear explosion and still be usable. In other words, these bunkers are indestructible.
Thankfully, these missiles were never used and the bunkers were decommissioned after the end of the Cold War. The bunker was given a new lease of life in civilian hands, and we were able to stay overnight in the bunker, which was turned into a luxury Airbnb.
What’s inside?
The first thing that strikes you as you step through the 6,000 pound solid metal door is how surreal this place is. It is hard to believe that this place was once a secure nuclear facility built to withstand a powerful nuclear attack. On the right is a silo that used to store nuclear missiles, now sealed off with concrete. To the left is a long tunnel lit only by blue and red LED lights that leads to what was once a control center and is now an Airbnb.
Level 3: Master bedroom
Let me start by saying this is one of the most beautifully designed master bedrooms we’ve ever seen on Airbnb. Located on the top floor of what was once a missile control center, this room features a stunning circular layout with a domed ceiling.
The floating bed, nightstands, and counter gave the entire room a luxurious spaceship-like aesthetic that we couldn’t get enough of. If you’re as obsessed with coffee as we are, you’ll appreciate having a coffee machine right next to your bed.
The bathroom has a huge freestanding bathtub, a bidet, and not one, not two, not three, but four shower heads.
Level 2: Living room
The second floor of your Airbnb acts as a hangout space and a spare bedroom in case you bring extra guests.
Perhaps the coolest part about this level is that the entire floor is suspended underground by a giant fountain. When this bunker was built, it was designed so that in the event of an earthquake, the entire control center would shake without collapsing.
Level 1: Kitchen and Cinema
A spiral staircase leads to the kitchen and movie theater on the bottom floor of the Airbnb. Back when the bunker was in operation, military personnel likely had kitchens to support their 24-hour presence, but I doubt they would have been as impressive as the kitchens built by Airbnb hosts. No.
Inside the kitchen, you’ll find just about everything you need, including a sink, microwave, oven, full freezer, stove, coffee maker, and the most fully stocked refrigerator I’ve ever seen on Airbnb. Lovely home cooked food.
Below the kitchen is a home theater with a comfy sofa and a huge entertainment system connected to all the streaming platforms you need. The original bunker probably didn’t have a movie theater, and it made me wonder how they managed to spend so much time underground. . .
What’s it like living underground?
When we first heard about staying in an underground bunker, we imagined rough living in deep, dark, cold concrete rooms. It sounded like an exciting adventure, but it wasn’t exactly a relaxing vacation.
Thankfully, staying in this bunker was the farthest thing from the harsh conditions. Airbnb host GT has done a perfect job of creating a place that is the perfect combination of adventure, luxury, and history.
We spent the afternoon outside the bunker learning the art of ax throwing. While in the bunker, we cooked a meal and relaxed on the couch to watch YouTube and movies. GT recommended watching the movie “Command and Control” to understand what was going on in this bunker 60 years ago. And it really brought history to life.
It felt like I could sleep forever in the darkness inside the bunker, but when I finally woke up, the GT gave me the daring challenge of escaping from the bunker through the emergency exit. It was pretty scary crawling through that narrow tunnel and climbing a 50 foot ladder. I can’t imagine having to do that in a real emergency situation.
it’s your turn
If spending the night in a luxurious doomsday bunker sounds like the perfect adventure for you, we highly recommend booking an Airbnb in GT and traveling to Arkansas for the adventure of a lifetime.
Watch the video below to learn more about our stay. And if you want more Doomsday Bunker content, you can read all about our visit to the world’s largest Doomsday community. There, we asked full-time residents why they chose a former military bunker as their home.
Hello! We are Kara and Nate. High school sweethearts from Nashville, Tennessee. Our shared love of travel led us on an adventure of a lifetime. In 2016 we quit our jobs and traveled the world for a year. Even after 7 years, we are still unstoppable! We quickly fell in love with life on the road and capturing videos of our travels. We’ve visited over 100 countries and have been fortunate to build an amazing community of subscribers on our YouTube channel and newsletter, Daily Drop. We’re so grateful to be able to do what we love every day, and we hope our stories and content inspire you to travel somewhere new.
