At a Glance

The 10,000-foot bunker features a medical facility, decontamination room, mortuary, daycare, pharmacy and even a dental clinic.Despite threats by authorities to seal off the bunker, Bruce Beach continues his work, saying his mission is for the greater good.

A man in Canada has gone to great lengths to protect himself and up to 500 others from catastrophe.

Bruce Beach, 83, an American transplant to the Ontario hamlet ofHorning’s Mills, hasburied 42 buses to create a nuclear fallout shelter.

On a 12.5-acrelot about 90 miles northwest of Toronto,not far from the home he shares with wife Jean, aformer teacher from Winfield, Kansas, Beach constructed the bunker he calls Ark Two.

Aerial construction photos of the nuclear bunker that has come to be known as the Ark Two.

(Bruce Beach/webpal.org)

It was during the height of the Kennedy-era Cold War that Beach decided to heed the president's warnings to begincollecting canned goods and createbunkers to protect people from a possible nuclear attack.

After moving to Ontarioin 1970, Beach began construction on his bunker in 1980.

Ark Two is constructed from the 42 buses he purchased for $300 each. The buried buses are covered in concrete and topped with , accordingto Beach's website.

Thebunker, decontamination room, mortuary, chapel, exercise area, library, laundry room, daycare, pharmacy and even a dental clinic.

Beach notes that once the structure was completed in 1985, he became known as the local "doomsayer."

"I am not a doomsayer because I am very optimistic about the future," Beach counters on his website.

Beach concedes that the majority of people, including local and provincial government, consider his actions a little on the crazyside.

“People think, ‘What a nut,’ and I know that, but ,” he told theNational Post. “I understand the world looks upon me that way.”

He encountered quite a bitofwhile trying to get his project launched. After years of trying to acquire the proper building permits, Beach became frustrated and went ahead and built the structure anyway. That led to numerous court appearances and thousands of dollars in legal fees, Beach notes.

Local authorities have threatened repeatedly since 2000 to seal off the underground passageways over safety concerns. Twice they did seal the entrance to the bunker but Beach continues to reopen the entrance.

“Their basis for sealing it is they say it was found to be a hazard. It is a , etc., etc.” Beach told the Orangeville Banner. "But as I say, it is the very opposite. The idea is not to create risk, but reduce risk.”

The nearby Shelburne Fire Department says it will notrescue anyone inside should the need arise.

“It is a life safety situation,” Tom Egan, chair of the Shelburne Fire Board, told the Banner. “We aren’t going to risk the life of one of our firefighters. … It is just not safe.”

Beach continues his work despite pushback and condescension, believing his project isa mission for the greater good.

"I have often been asked, 'why not get a life, enjoy life and quit worrying about doomsday?' The answer is that I don't see the purpose of life, nor happiness in life measured in how many rounds of golf I might play, but rather, in service to my fellow man," Beach says.

Bathroom facilities.

(Bruce Beach/webpal.org)

The Ark Two's kitchen.

(Bruce Beach/webpal.org)

The dental room inside the Ark Two.

(Bruce Beach/webpal.org)