Fortitude Ranch

LOL - While I won't scoff at their enterprise, just a 2 min scan of a google search shows me they have a lot to learn. A LOT.

And I'm not trying to disrespect the OP, but to point out what I see.

Their premise seems to be in creating a network of ranches - right out of Mr. Davis's "bug out" ranch in the "Lights Out" novel. But with an entrepenueral twist. "You pay me." Vs "Here's some junk silver, bring your guns and knowledge to share the risk/load." It's a management vs customer / serf model. It caters to scared Americans who think they can buy their survival.

"♦ Professional full time staff with military experience in charge" I copied that off their website.

I can think of at least a dozen members here they ought to hire as consultants.

One of their pictures shows a log cabin in the woods on a steep hillside. I'm sure even the newest member of SB can tell us in a glance at least five things wrong, just from the picture.

They are selling rooms in some cases, or floors in a home. Yeah, that'll work. A group of strangers thrown together in one house who's only common point is being able to afford the fees. Most without the necessary skills. Skills that are developed over a lifetime of education and training.

I'm a hippie who became an old warrior. I've studied intentional communities for years. For a time I was interested in starting one. I learned they are extremely difficult to keep together in good times. The only two that have suceeded long term is "The Farm," a commune in TN, started by 300 hippies back in the 70's. The other is "Avalon Gardens," here in AZ, but it's a cult run by a guru. Both require a very specific person who can get along well with others. Such people are rare. They are pacifist groups though and unlikely to survive first contact.

There are a few actual survivalist groups that have stayed together, but from what I see are mostly family or long time friends with close ties. Some are here on the Board. Again, such people are rare.

More recently I was following a group in Colorado formed by some self-styled anarchists, lgbt and antifa as a survival retreat. They raised alpacas on a hard scrabble dry ranch. I thought it was a pretty unique concept at first, since most groups are heavily weighed toward conservative values. But their left views and inability to keep their opinions to themselves made them enemies of the conservative community where they lived. It ended up in armed confrontations that made the news. They got foreclosed last year. It lasted 3-4 years. About average for such communities. I'm also not saying the lone wolf is a good solution either.

It seems to me someone with 4-5 million for a BOL is going to buy a small ranch/farm fishing resort in the boonies, hire a ranch manager and make it into a financially self sustaining operation. At least I would.

But there's probably enough people to make this model work. Right up until they meet up with the real deal, like in "Lights Out," and get smoked.

Just my humble opinion, not trying to diss the project, I'm sure those involved are as passionate about their operation as we all are about our own situations, however humble.