Mayan Doomsday: Ron Hubbard builds survival shelter in California

Ron Hubbard has built a luxurious underground bomb-proof shelter in Montebello, California, with a leather sofa, plasma TV and wooden flooring – just in case the Mayans’ predictions about the world ending come true on Friday, December 21st.

The civilisation’s Long Count calendar which began 5,125 years ago in 3113 B.C. ends on December 21, 2012 – sparking fears among a small group of people that a major catastrophe could happen.

Ron Hubbard manufactures hi-tech underground “recreational bomb shelters” – and has seen his business boom from selling one a month to one a day in the past year.

The luxurious bomb, nuclear and chemical weapon-proof bunkers are kitted out with beds, kitchens, flushing toilets and even fireplaces – and sell for an average price of $70,000.

Ron Hubbard revealed that he is currently rushing the installment of two shelters – one in New York and another in Indiana – in time for the potential Doomsday anticipated by some people this Friday.

He said: “I will be heading into my shelter on December 21 just because I have one and if any of the astrophysicists are right, I would feel really stupid.

“I’ve sold shelters to astrophysicists who believe there is a possibility that we could be hit with a strong solar flare or large amounts of radiation.

“I’ll spend three days underground in the shelter just to be safe. If you have a shelter you might as well go in it. I don’t think anything will happen but you never know.”

The 500 sq ft cylindrical shelters – produced at Ron Hubbard’s based in California – each measure 10 ft in diameter and 50 ft long.

They have escape tunnels with one sided hatches which can only open from the inside, as well as sealed contamination rooms between the entrance and living areas.

But they have proved popular not just with those preparing for Armageddon, but hunters too.

Ron Hubbard said: “I started making them because I wanted one for myself, but didn’t want to pay $1 million to $2 million for them.

“We get a lot of people who buy the shelters as a form of insurance for the worst case scenario. Just like someone would buy fire insurance in case their home suffers a fire.

“We have gone from selling one a month to one a day in the past year since Obama’s re-election.

“Many people are afraid of economic meltdown, others simply want to have one just in case something catastrophic does happen.

“People love them. They make a very nice hunting cabin or weekend retreat, so they don’t just have to sit there waiting for a catastrophe.”

The end – or a new calendar?

Inscriptions in Mexico refer to Bolon Yokte – a god associated with war and the underworld – “descending from the sky” at the end of a 13th period of 400 years on December 21 2012.

But many Mayan experts believe the “apocalypse” concept is a false interpretation of their 5,125-year Long Count cycle as Friday simply marks the start of a new calendar.