In the rural fields of Ontario, Canada is a man who guards one of North America’s most mind-boggling mysteries. On this site, the 83-year old Bruce Beach built one of the most eccentric and extraordinary structures you will find on the continent. Motivated by his vision of what the future will be like, he started his wild mission to put up a structure you have never seen before.
Strange Sight
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that everything was smooth-sailing for Bruce Beach. He encountered a lot of obstacles in the process of implementing his project. Even the local authorities tried putting a stop to this undertaking but Bruce Beach just kept on fighting. His project may not be visible above ground, but what he has done is nothing short of miraculous. We bet you are eager to learn what his project is all about!
Strange Sight
Moving North
Bruce Beach is originally from Winfield, Kansas where he spent his early adult years during one of the most strained and tense periods in the history of the United States. Remember, it was during this time that the USA went to war against Vietnam. This period was also when the US and its allies experienced the geopolitical tensions of the Cold War with the Soviet Union and its Eastern Bloc states. These events left a huge mark on Bruce Beach. The threat and menace that they pose left him with so much fear and worry that he decided to migrate to Canada with his family. This is where he embarked on the mission that made him famous.
Moving North
Seeking Refuge
When Bruce Beach moved his family to Canada in 1979, he did not look for just any spot to transfer to. Instead, he brought his entire family to the hometown of his wife, Jean. Horning’s Mills is one of the communities comprising the southwestern township of Melancthon, Ontario. It is approximately a 2-hour drive from Toronto and it can be reached by bus, car, shuttle, taxi, and train. Beach felt that it was the safest spot for his family. It was also the best place for him to start on his momentous project.
Seeking Refuge
Odd Collection
From 1980 to 1985, Bruce Beach started an unusual collection. He started buying old and retired school buses wherever they could be found. Each one of these buses cost him approximately $300. He simply asked for these buses to be delivered to his house. During this period, he was able to acquire 42 retired school buses. Others may think that this was an expensive thing to do, but Beach actually had a plan in mind. And, these buses will play a crucial role in the plan that he was about to set in motion.
Odd Collection
Digging The Pit
Each and every bus had a reinforced steel roof and Beach believed that this feature makes the buses blast-proof. This was a very important factor for what he was planning to do. He had about 12.5 acres of land at his disposal and with so much open space, Beach did not have much of a problem regarding storage and parking. He proceeded to organize the buses by systematically placing them side by side. It would allow him to create a pit that is big enough to fit all of his reinforced buses. However, the real reason why he buried the buses is still a mystery and most people were puzzled about his motivations.
Digging The Pit
Finalizing The Plan
Now that Bruce was able to put all of his reinforced buses underground, he could finally complete his ambitious plan. The next thing Bruce did was to seal the pit where the buses were buried with two feet of concrete. This collection of buses was not merely for show. He created a series of tunnels by opening up the buses and connecting them, ultimately creating a labyrinth of sorts. The buses Bruce buried were meant to serve as an underground shelter. We are willing to bet that you have no idea what he wanted to do with the space!
Finalizing The Plan
Finished Work
By the time Bruce Beach completed his grand project, he named his underground shelter Ark Two. The series of tunnels is about 10,000 square feet in size. The subterranean Ark can fit about half a thousand people. However, there are certain requirements before a person can enter Beach’s Ark Two and not everyone can enter as they please. Though he designed it to shelter people in case of calamities, Beach is quite specific about the conditions and the people who can use it.
Finished Work
Special Screening
Bruce thoroughly planned out who he will allow into Ark Two. He thought long and hard on the circumstances under which he can permit a person to enter his underground shelter. The first rule he decided on was to not allow anyone who has any type of disease into his Ark Two. Those with infectious illnesses are especially not allowed into his shelter. People who want to enter the subterranean shelter will have to undergo screening with strict standards. The reason why Beach made the rule is to avoid external contaminants from infecting the facility. According to Beach, he must keep Ark Two absolutely sterile and this is the reason why he implemented such a regulation.
Special Screening
Disease Free Area
Ark Two has seven separate entryways and all of them are equipped with screening equipment. Before one can enter, one must undergo a rigorous inspection. After that, he will be asked to immediately take a shower. Once he is done showering, the person is then ushered to a decontamination chamber. Bruce Beach wants to be certain that new arrivals do not put the shelter and other people in it at risk. Beach is determined to keep any form of sickness out of his facility and the policy was immediately implemented upon the completion of the project.
Disease Free Area
Proper Supervision
At first glance, you might think that Bruce’s project is just something that was accomplished by randomly putting old buses into a huge pit. You would definitely be wrong about that. According to Beach, someone helped him make his dream project into reality. Mind you, the underground bunker he built is actually quite structurally sound and reliable. Bruce says that a structural engineer assisted him in planning and building his project. So who exactly was brave enough to take on Beach’s bizarre project?
Proper Supervision
Fully Stocked
You might think that Bruce’s idea is a bit far-fetched. However, he claims that the engineer who helped him supervise the construction of his underground bunker was the man who built the Toronto subway system! It seems that the engineer was up to the job and ready to take on the unusual project. Power or electricity is a priority for any type of emergency shelter and Beach made sure that his subterranean bunker was well stocked with diesel fuel for generators that can last about three months using the fuel that he collected over time. Moreover, his shelter also comes with a fully-functional plumbing system. The basic necessities of those living in the shelter are completely covered.
Fully Stocked
The Basics
The plumbing system and fuel for generators are not the only things needed to run an underground shelter. People need a lot more than just electricity and a bathroom, after all. If Bruce plans on completely making use of his shelter, people will need water for drinking. To accommodate this need, Bruce designed and constructed a well that can supply water that is completely safe for human consumption. As you can see, this man made sure that Ark Two was self-sufficient. He even came up with a detailed plan to survive living underground!
The Basics
There’s Even a Kitchen!
Food is one of the things that a human being can never do without. As a result, Beach created a subterranean kitchen for his Ark Two. Clearly, he meticulously planned out how to survive in his underground shelter. He even contacted a friend of his who worked as a cook and included him in the guest list so he can supply biscuits for the bunker. Beach hopes that, as a result of this arrangement, there will be an endless supply of food for those who are staying in his bunker. However, stocking up on food and keeping them safe has its own share of difficulties. It is particularly challenging if you are planning to feed up to 500 people on a regular basis. Unfortunately, Bruce had to go through a lot of mistakes when stocking up food in the bunker. Throughout the years, he has thrown out a lot of wasted food. Nevertheless, he still kept the bunker well-stocked for future use.
There’s Even A Kitchen!
Maximizing Space
One thing that may come as a surprise for many people is the segregation of sexes. Bruce Beach created a rule to separate the genders, which is a little too strict if you ask us. However, Bruce’s reason for such rule might shock you. According to Beach, the rule was created to save space. He reasoned that if the families would stay together, they would need a bigger space to sleep compared to those who sleep alone. Such an arrangement will ultimately use up more space than necessary. Thus, by segregating people according to gender, he can maximize the number of people who can use the bunks in the shelter. So do you have any ideas why he came up with such an extensive plan? What exactly is Bruce Beach preparing for?
Maximizing Space
Thinking of the Kids
After about four decades of spending time on the planning and construction of Ark Two, what does he plan for the younger generation? As you might have realized by now, everything in Ark Two is meticulously designed and planned. The master plan even includes the education of the kids while staying in the underground shelter. Beach hopes to allow the children to continue and finish their education while staying in Ark Two. He built a play and learning area in one of his bunkers for the little ones to use and it even has a chess set, toys, and tricycles. He even included a nursery and classroom in addition to the children’s bunk beds. However, he did not stop there.
Thinking Of The Kids
Added Bonuses
Over the years Beach spent building his underground shelter, he continuously thought of extra accessories he can add to the bunker. He also thought of additional features that people might want and need while staying in the shelter. One of the things he placed in the bunker was a dentist’s chair and there is even a mortuary for those who lost their lives in the bunker. Perhaps even more amazing was the addition of a prison or brig. According to Bruce, this feature is reserved for those who do not follow the rules and regulations of the underground shelter.
Bruce believes that it is imperative to maintain order, especially since the shelter is a closed space underground where movement is limited. As a result, he installed security cameras all around the space. Furthermore, he thought of upcycling some old things he had. One example of which is turning an old bicycle into a wheat-grinding mill. However, you cannot expect to stay underground forever, right?
Added Bonuses
Outside Communication
Beach knows that people will voluntarily enter Ark Two to seek asylum but he is also aware of the fact that there is a need to constantly know what is happening in the outside world. If Bruce plans on staying in the bunker together with five hundred other people, he believes that knowing what is happening above ground is a must. So what he did was to install lines and improvised radio communication systems that will allow FM and AM stations to be broadcasted to everyone in the bunker. The radio communication system can catch all of the stations in America and Canada. Why does it need to reach a lot of people?
Outside Communication
Bracing For The Apocalypse
Have you heard of “preppers”? Bruce Beach happens to be one. Preppers are people who think that the apocalypse will eventually happen, which is why they prepare for it. Many of these people create bunkers and prepare bags that they can easily bring with them in case it happens. Although some people do it because of their religious beliefs, others do it because of the ancient prophecies foreseeing doom. On the other hand, some use artifacts as their source or reference including the Ancient Mayan Calendar which showed 2012 to be the end of one cycle. More than fifty years ago, Bruce Beach left the United States to build Ark Two. However, his reason for building one is different from other “preppers”.
Bracing For The Apocalypse
Annual Gatherings
Not a lot of people believe what the “preppers” say. Since it is such a small community, they hold Annual Prepper Meetings and this occasion helps them meet others who share the same belief and lifestyle. The annual gathering would also help them learn more on how to best prepare for the upcoming apocalypse. They even hold a number of classes like “Zombie Survival Camp”, “Dispatching and Skinning Rabbits”, and “Surviving in the Wilderness”. In turn, annual prepper events are also held in Ark Two. Now, what exactly do they do in the underground bunker?
Annual Gatherings
Special Access
The Ark Two has an incredibly tight security that makes entry a feat in itself already. Bruce Beach is quite protective of his facility, to say the least. Furthermore, getting a tour around the facility is not free and it is, in fact, rather costly. Even the press has a hard time gaining permission to enter it as only those who are deemed worthy can enter. Some reporters and their crew are asked to perform various tasks as a test. Some are even asked to chop firewood or perform any other chore that would demonstrate their worthiness to enter Ark Two. However, what they saw inside the underground bunker was a far cry from what they expected.
Special Access
Costly Burden
The process of creating, constructing, and protecting Ark Two definitely requires a lot of money. The cost of it is carried not only by Beach but by his family as well. The maintenance of the bunker can certainly be a challenge, especially if funds are running low. Mishaps and pest infestations have also contributed to the increasing cost of maintaining the shelter. For example, rats have taken over the underground shelter. The rodents discovered the wheat bags that were stored in the bunker and all of the supplies were destroyed and eaten up by the pests. When the supplies were gone, the rats then proceeded to invade his home! The infestation was not the end of such challenges as Beach also went through theft, fires, and floods. These were not the only things he had to face while maintaining his underground bunker.
Costly Burden
Hazard To The Community
Although some have shown support for Beach’s project, the local government of Ontario was not at all pleased to learn about it. For them, Ark Two was a huge and dangerous facility even if Beach claims otherwise. The government discovered that the facility was constructed without the necessary permits. However, Beach did explain that he tried to get the proper permits for the underground bunker. He even went to court for it for more than thirty times just to get the permits. On the other hand, the local government of Ontario also spent about $250,000 just to shut Ark Two down. Bruce Beach, in the name of his vision, has surely made plenty of enemies. His perseverance, however, is driven by one particular reason.
Hazard To The Community
Closing The Project
Other than Bruce’s problem with the local government, he also had to deal with other departments like the local fire department. The subterranean structure was closed two times by the local fire brigade. The action left Bruce looking for ways to reopen his facility. Then, by 2015, there was a gathering of Canadian survivalists on the underground shelter. When the fire department heard of it, they threatened to close Ark Two again for the third time. Bruce stated that all interventions that were made by the local government, fire department, and others were preventing him from helping others from catastrophe. However, some of his family believes otherwise.
Closing The Project
His Other Half
Most people definitely do not believe that a nuclear apocalypse is coming. Luckily for Bruce Beach, his wife Jane endlessly supports him and his vision. Jane is a ninety-year-old woman who has been with Bruce ever since the Cold War. Both of them knew the horrors of war. Although the Cold war ended many decades ago, it still has not soothed the couple’s fears. In spite of his wife’s support, Bruce’s children felt differently about their father’s beliefs and project.
His Other Half
Skeptics
Bruce Beach’s children are now adults who each have their own families to support. They have been quite outspoken about how they feel about their father’s apocalyptic beliefs. To put it simply, Bruce’s children are over it. We sympathize with them as it must have been hard to grow up in that kind of environment. Most people would understand why his children resented their father’s actions. No one would want to grow up being afraid of a nuclear attack to happen at any time. How does Bruce Beach feel about his children’s opposing views?
Skeptics
Selfless Motives
Throughout the years, nuclear threats and wars have come and gone. Yet, Beach continues to prepare for it tirelessly. He does not think much about what others think of him, even if his very own children’s views are different. For Beach, what he is doing is the best way he can help society. In fact, Bruce thinks that other survivalists are more selfish since they are too focused on their own survival. In contrast, he thinks that he is doing a better job at the task. For Beach, Ark Two far surpasses any vision that most survivalists have.
Selfless Motives
Safe America For Everyone
Ark Two is also commonly known as “Safe America for Everyone” or SAFE. According to Beach, the construction of Ark Two was done to turn it into a true melting pot. It should be a place where people of different race, religion, culture, and political beliefs can come together for refuge. Bruce Beach has become the manager of what is believed to be the biggest nuclear shelter in the whole continent! It could house hundreds of people if ever a catastrophe would hit. Beach made it clear that anyone and everyone was welcome. The question would be how long the shelter can last.
Safe America For Everyone
Just Temporary
According to Bruce Beach, Ark Two can shelter five hundred people for around three weeks. This is in case the worst possible scenario happens where he cannot go out and get the necessary supplies. He hopes that it would be enough time for him to rest, refuel, and move to the next safe location. Bruce continuously does his best to help others in case a nuclear apocalypse happens. However, his nuclear vision appears to have forgotten about something extremely important. He did not include the effects of winter into his plans! So, when can he exactly start taking in survivors?
Just Temporary
His Prediction
Bruce Beach’s previous job was as a radio control tower operator for the US Air Force. It was where he first became worried about the likelihood of a nuclear war. Furthermore, Beach is also a former computer science professor. No, it is not about the threats from North Korea’s nuclear experiments or the threats from the former Soviet Union that he is worried about. Beach thinks differently and he thinks that a nuclear war is not a matter of ‘if’ but it is a question of ‘when’. He believes that a chain of events will trigger the impending nuclear apocalypse and he says it would start when Pakistan tries to trample India. However, he still maintains that everything will better after the chaos of the nuclear apocalypse.
His Prediction
Only The Beginning
Though it may seem Bruce Beach’s vision is horrifying, he believes that the apocalypse is not the end of the world but rather the beginning of something better. He then went on to describe the rehabilitation process once the catastrophe is over. Beach hopes that the apocalypse would bring forth a new and better type of humanity. Many may have been opposed to Bruce’s ideas, but the man has plenty of supporters as well. Beach, also known as Marta Iwanek or Toronto Star, may have many supporters but he also has his fair share of detractors. However, it is undeniable that what Bruce Beach achieved through the construction of the Ark Two is truly extraordinary. Ark Two is, in fact, referred to as North America’s biggest nuclear fallout shelter.
Only The Beginning