Interest in private doomsday shelters has jumped amid rising tensions involving Iran, Atlas Survival Shelters owner Ron Hubbard says. He told The Telegraph inquiries have increased "tenfold," and two senior Trump administration cabinet members are among his clients. Atlas offers bunkers from about $20,000 to $5 million and reports roughly $2 million in monthly sales in 2026, with Hubbard predicting a potential surge. The company markets shelters for pandemics, civil unrest, nuclear fallout and EMP threats.
Demand for Private Bunkers Spikes as Middle East Tensions Rise, Texas Manufacturer Says
Demand for doomsday bunkers rising, Texas-based manufacturer says
As tensions between Iran and other countries in the Middle East escalate, a Texas-based maker of private fallout shelters says interest in long-term underground shelters has surged. Ron Hubbard, owner of Atlas Survival Shelters, told The Telegraph in a March 8 interview that his company has "been inundated with calls" and that inquiries have increased "tenfold" since the conflict intensified.
Public safety agencies in many countries, including the United States, advise citizens to be prepared to survive roughly three days without outside assistance. Atlas’ shelters, by contrast, are marketed for prolonged emergencies — from pandemics and civil unrest to nuclear fallout and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) events.
"We manufacture all sorts of survival shelters used to protect you and your family in case of a pandemic outbreak, civil unrest, malicious mobs, and biological nuclear FALLOUT or EMP attacks from homegrown terrorists or other nations," the Atlas website says.
What Atlas Offers
Atlas lists a wide price range to serve different customers: compact units starting around $20,000 up to full underground compounds priced near $5 million. Buyers can customize interiors with amenities such as movie theaters, indoor shooting ranges, swimming pools and more, according to the company.
Clients, Sales And Industry Context
Hubbard told The Telegraph that two senior cabinet members from the Trump administration are among his clients. "One of them texted me yesterday, asking me: 'When will my bunker be ready?'" he said. Hubbard also characterized a large share of his customer base as "Christian, conservative CEOs," saying they want protection and peace of mind as geopolitical uncertainty grows.
The company reported averaging roughly $2 million in monthly sales in 2026 and Hubbard predicted that number could jump dramatically in the near term. "Bunker building is like being a farmer. When it's time for harvest, you have to reap all you can," he told the outlet.
NewsNation has previously covered the expanding private-bunker market, including profiles of upscale bunkers in Indiana and a former Army base in South Dakota converted into a bunker community. Reporters Liz Jassin and Brian Entin contributed to this report.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Help us improve.
