Preparing for the zombie apocalypse? This house for sale in northern Wisconsin is for you

Claire Reid
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Earlier this year, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists set its infamous Doomsday Clock at 90 seconds to midnight for the second year in a row.

This is the closest the symbolic clock has ever been to midnight, a metaphor for how close humanity is to self-annihilation, according to the Bulletin, which has maintained the clock since 1947.

For some, the apocalypse is a very real day-to-day threat. Survivalist groups ― some perhaps better known as "doomsday preppers" ― have gained recognition recently during the COVID-19 pandemic and as the world grapples with wars in Europe and the Middle East. Numerous prepper websites include extensive lists of apocalypse-ready supplies. Even some of the world's wealthiest elites are in on survivalism; "Architectural Digest" named "luxury bunkers" (which cost millions of dollars) one of the biggest architectural trends of 2023.

If you're a prepper or someone looking for insurance against the zombie apocalypse (should it arise) or maybe just a homebody looking to hide from your neighbors, this newly listed Douglas County home ― or maybe more accurately, compound ― might be right for you.

Located on 80 private acres near Superior, Wis., this home at 5312 S. Stone Road in South Range was recently listed for $1.1 million by realtor Leah Hollenbach of RE/MAX Results.

South-facing exterior at 5312 S. Stone Road. The compound in South Range, Wis., was built by families preparing for Y2K.

At the terminus of a dead-end road and built into the Earth for camouflage, it's truly the perfect place to hide out from brain-eating, undead creatures ... or just enjoy the solitude of nature. The complex features a grass-covered living roof, which helps with insulation and staying hidden from eyes above.

"This truly unique underground home is built to stand the test of time with a stone and mortar exterior, a living roof on top of a newer rubber roof laid over Spancrete (and) pre-stressed hollow core ceiling slabs for the ultimate in strength and durability," the listing says. "The walls and interior structure are a mixture of poured concrete in high-load areas and concrete block in other areas to create storage rooms and interior walls."

The side of the compound at 5312 S. Stone Road in South Range, Wis.

The property, which includes three residential units, was recently featured on the popular real estate TikTok account "Homes.tastrophes." Each unit has three bedrooms, one full bathroom, and a kitchen with a pantry and storage spaces.

The custom triplex has multiple large common spaces, including an upper-level lobby, which provides access to the upper two units, a stone-walled courtyard and stairs to the living roof.

The lower level offers about 2,520 square feet of common space, which includes a partial bathroom, cedar-lined sauna, room for a machine shop, a canning kitchen, access to the attached eight-car garage and more.

Unit 3 of the custom triplex for sale at 5312 S. Stone Road in South Range, Wis. Each of the three units includes three bedrooms, one full bathroom and a kitchen.

The compound was built in 1979 by three family members. Jonathan Allen, the property's seller, told USA TODAY that he was told when he bought it that the family was prepping for Y2K. Like the events of the 2020s, the impending switch from "99" to "00" on computers' displays of the date (and what could go wrong with it), inspired swaths of preppers over 24 years ago.

Two freshwater wells, back-up valves and other features equip the property for off-the-grid living. Described by the listing as "(b)uilt by preppers for preppers," the compound also includes a separate, now-empty generator house and a large tower.

The entryway at 5312 S. Stone Road.

Allen doesn't consider himself a prepper, though; he was just inspired by how the original owners built the structure out of concrete into the side of the hill.

"I think (they) were just very strategic and smart," he told USA TODAY. "I want to be cautious and say they were preppers, but they were also just self-sufficient."

Aerial view of 5312 S. Stone Road. The compound in South Range, Wis., is located on 80 private acres. Outside includes river frontage, a shooting range, apple trees and five acres of gardening space.

Outside, you can enjoy views of Lake Superior and frontage on the Little Amnicon River. The property has a shooting range (which Homes.tastrophes suggests could be turned into a paintball course), as well as plenty of lumber, apple trees and over five acres of cleared gardening space for apocalypse-ready self-sufficiency.

"There's no other property like this in existence," the listing states. "If you had to build it today, it would cost you millions."

5312 S. Stone Road sits on 80 acres, with views of Lake Superior and Duluth, Minn.

More information about the property can be found here on the RE/MAX Results website.

You can take a virtual tour of the property here.

More:Doomsday Clock 2024 time update has dire warnings of nuclear war, climate change and AI

USA TODAY reporter Kinsey Crowley contributed to this report.