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Line 1: − − ==History== − While fallout shelters have been advocated since the 1950s, dedicated self-sufficient survivalist retreats have been advocated only since the mid-1970s, The survival retreat concept has been touted by a number of influential Survivalist writers including [[Ragnar Benson]], Bruce D. Clayton, Jeff Cooper, Cresson Kearny, [[James Wesley Rawles]], Howard Ruff, Kurt Saxon, [[Joel Skousen]], Don Stephens, and Mel Tappan. − − ===1960s=== − − With the increasing inflation of the 1960s and the impending US monetary [[Devaluation]] (predicted by Harry Browne in his 1970 book ''How You Can Profit from the Coming Devaluation''), as well as the continuing concern with possible nuclear exchanges between the US and the Soviet Union, and the increasing vulnerability of urban centers to supply shortages and other systems failures, a number of primarily conservative and [[Libertarian]] thinkers began suggesting that individual preparations would be wise. Mr. Browne began offering seminars on how to survive a monetary collapse in 1967, with Don Stephens, an architectural design innovator, providing input on how to build and equip a remote survival retreat and providing a copy of his original ''Retreater's Bibliography''(1967) for each seminar participant. − − ===1970s=== − In 1975, Kurt Saxon began publishing a newsletter called ''The Survivor'', which advocated moving to lightly-populated regions to "lay low" during a socio-economic collapse, and setting up fortified enclaves for defense against what he termed "killer karavans"<ref>http://www.textfiles.com/survival/caravans</ref> of looters from urban areas. − − In 1976, survival bookseller and author Don Stephens in Washington (author of ''The Survivor's Primer & Up-dated Retreater's Bibliography'', 1976) popularized the term "retreater" and advocated relocating to a rural retreat when society breaks down. − − Writers such as Howard Ruff warned about socio-economic collapse and recommended moving to lightly-populated farming regions, most notably in his 1979 book ''How to Prosper During the Coming Bad Years'', a best-seller in 1979. − − For a time in the 1970s, the terms "survivalist" and "retreater" were used interchangeably. The term "retreater" eventually fell out of favor.<ref>[http://www.aussurvivalist.com/whatissurvivalismsaxon.htm AusSurvivalist - What is Survivalism?<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> − In addition to hard copy newsletters, in the 1970s survivalists got their first online presence with BBS<ref>[http://www.survivalbill.ca Survival Bill<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and [[Usenet]] forums dedicated to survivalism and survival retreats.+ − − ===1980s=== − Survivalist retreat books of the 1980s were typified by the 1980 book ''Life After Doomsday''<ref>''Life After Doomsday'', by Bruce D. Clayton, Dial Press, ISBN 0-8037-4752-7</ref> by Bruce D. Clayton advocating survival retreats in locales that would minimize fallout and specially-constructing Blast shelters and/or Fallout shelters that would provide Fallout Protection in the event of a nuclear war. − − ===1990s=== − − − ===2000-present=== − In recent years, advocacy of survivalist retreats has had a strong resurgence after the [[terrorist]] attacks on the [[World Trade Center]] in [[New York]] in 2001 and similar attacks in Bali, [[Spain]], and [[London]]. − − Several books published since 2000 advocate survival retreats and relocation. Some that have been particularly influential in survivalist circles are ''How to Implement a High Security Shelter in the Home '' by [[Joel Skousen]], ''Rawles on Retreats and Relocation'' by [[James Wesley Rawles]], and ''Life After Terrorism: What You Need to Know to Survive in Today's World'' by Bruce D. Clayton.<ref>[http://www.paladin-press.com/detail.aspx?ID=476 ''Life After Terrorism: What You Need to Know to Survive in Today's World''] by Bruce D. Clayton. Paladin Press, 2002, ISBN 1-58160-326-6</ref> Line 69:
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Removed all edits from the paste from the ewikipedia version of this article that I did not persoanlly author. (I am the original author of the article.))
A '''retreat''' is a commonly used term for a place of refuge for those in the Survivalist movement. Survivalist retreats are intended to be self-sufficient and are generally located in lightly-populated rural areas.
A '''retreat''' is a commonly used term for a place of refuge for those in the Survivalist movement. Survivalist retreats are intended to be self-sufficient and are generally located in lightly-populated rural areas.
Perhaps the most important newsletter on survivalism and survivalist retreats in the 1970s was the ''Personal Survival ("P.S.") Letter'' (circa 1977-1982) published by Mel Tappan, who also authored the books ''Survival Guns'' and ''Tappan on Survival''. The newsletter included columns from Tappan himself as well from Jeff Cooper, Al J. Venter, Bill Pier, Bruce D. Clayton, Rick Fines, Nancy Mack Tappan, J.B. Wood, Dr. Carl Kirsch, Charles Avery, Karl Hess, Eugene A. Barron, Janet Groene, Dean Ing, Bob Taylor, Reginald Bretnor, C.G. Cobb, and several other writers, some under pen names. The majority of this newsletter revolved around selecting, constructing and logistically equipping survival retreats.<ref>[http://www.frfrogspad.com/persurv.htm Magazine Articles By Jeff Cooper(<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Following Tappan's death in 1980, Karl Hess took over publishing the newsletter, eventually renaming it ''Survival Tomorrow''.
Perhaps the most important newsletter on survivalism and survivalist retreats in the 1970s was the ''Personal Survival ("P.S.") Letter'' (circa 1977-1982) published by Mel Tappan, who also authored the books ''Survival Guns'' and ''Tappan on Survival''. The newsletter included columns from Tappan himself as well from Jeff Cooper, Al J. Venter, Bill Pier, Bruce D. Clayton, Rick Fines, Nancy Mack Tappan, J.B. Wood, Dr. Carl Kirsch, Charles Avery, Karl Hess, Eugene A. Barron, Janet Groene, Dean Ing, Bob Taylor, Reginald Bretnor, C.G. Cobb, and several other writers, some under pen names. The majority of this newsletter revolved around selecting, constructing and logistically equipping survival retreats.<ref>[http://www.frfrogspad.com/persurv.htm Magazine Articles By Jeff Cooper(<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Following Tappan's death in 1980, Karl Hess took over publishing the newsletter, eventually renaming it ''Survival Tomorrow''.
Several books have offered advice on survival retreats and relocation. Some influential in survivalist circles are ''Survival Retreat: A Total Plan For Retreat Defense'' by [[Ragnar Benson]], ''Strategic Relocation--North American Guide to Safe Places'' by [[Joel Skousen]], and ''The Secure Home'', (also by Skousen). Some that have been particularly influential in survivalist circles are ''How to Implement a High Security Shelter in the Home '' by [[Joel Skousen]], ''Rawles on Retreats and Relocation'' by [[James Wesley Rawles]], and ''Life After Terrorism: What You Need to Know to Survive in Today's World'' by Bruce D. Clayton.<ref>[http://www.paladin-press.com/detail.aspx?ID=476 ''Life After Terrorism: What You Need to Know to Survive in Today's World''] by Bruce D. Clayton. Paladin Press, 2002, ISBN 1-58160-326-6</ref>
Several books published in the 1990s offered advice on survival retreats and relocation. Some influential in survivalist circles are ''Survival Retreat: A Total Plan For Retreat Defense'' by [[Ragnar Benson]], ''Strategic Relocation--North American Guide to Safe Places'' by [[Joel Skousen]], and ''The Secure Home'', (also by Skousen).
Online survival websites, forums, and blogs discuss the best locales for survival retreats, how to build, fortify, and equip them, and how to form survivalist retreat groups.<ref>[http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=survivalist&submit=Search Yahoo! Groups : Search Results<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Online survival websites, forums, and blogs discuss the best locales for survival retreats, how to build, fortify, and equip them, and how to form survivalist retreat groups.<ref>[http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=survivalist&submit=Search Yahoo! Groups : Search Results<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==In fiction==
==In fiction==
''Lucifer's Hammer'' by Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven (1977) describes a disaster caused by a comet striking the Earth, and a the adventures of people that form an impromptu group retreat in an small mountain community, which they must defend from a large gang of cannibalistic looters.
''Lucifer's Hammer'' by Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven (1977) is about a cataclysmic comet hitting the Earth, and a group people struggling to survive the aftermath in southern California. Their retreat is an isolated mountain community, which they barricade from outsiders.
''Patriots: Surviving the Coming Collapse'' by [[James Wesley Rawles]] (1998) (editor of SurvivalBlog) is a novel about a full-scale socio-economic collapse and subsequent invasion of the US, which a review has called "a survival manual dressed as fiction."
''Patriots: Surviving the Coming Collapse'' by [[James Wesley Rawles]] (1998) (editor of SurvivalBlog) is a novel about a full-scale socio-economic collapse and subsequent invasion of the US, which a review has called "a survival manual dressed as fiction."
''Wolf and Iron'' (1990) by Gordon Dickson describes a systemic societal collapse. The main character "GeeBee" builds and stocks and earth-sheltered retreat, using salvaged materials.
''Wolf and Iron'' (1990) by Gordon Dickson describes a systemic societal collapse. The main character "GeeBee" builds and stocks and earth-sheltered retreat, using salvaged materials.
''The Postman'' by David Brin (1985) is set in a time after a massive plague and political fracture result in a complete collapse of society. Both the Holnists and townsmen construct fortified retreats.
''The Postman'' by David Brin (1985) takes place in the aftermath of an EMP attack and pandemic plague with subsequent socioeconomic collapse that reduces the societal infrastructure to early 19th Century levels. Both the Holnists and townsmen construct fortified retreats.
==See also==
==See also==