2020. What a year! The uncertainty dumped on us from multiple directions — uncertainty that is far from over — has been, from a historical aspect, absolutely unprecedented for the United States of America.

From COVID-19 to the lockdowns to the presidential election to protestors in the streets, our way of life has been upended. I’m regularly thankful to not live in an incorporated urban area. We live among a group of neighbors we can trust if civil unrest erupts.

But what if you live in an urban or suburban area and you don’t have or can’t afford a second home to which you can retreat? Maybe the Fortitude Ranch Survival Community is for you.

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Understanding trigger mechanisms is just the first step. Proper training transforms you from a gun owner into a confident protector.

USCCA’s expert-led classes cover everything from firearm fundamentals and trigger control to legal considerations and conflict avoidance – giving you the confidence and skills to protect what matters most.

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Fortitude Ranch West Virginia

There are currently two Fortitude Ranch locations in operation: one in Colorado and one in West Virginia. Neither location has an address listed for security reasons. And the locations can’t be easily spotted with Google Earth, as they don’t look like “survivalist” compounds.

I visited the West Virginia location with my former lieutenant, who had told me about Fortitude Ranch. The ranch is nestled in the mountains on the eastern side of West Virginia. Steve Rene, the operations manager, set up a time for us to tour and interview. Anyone is able to make an appointment to see the facility for a fee of $25.

Fortitude Ranch West Virginia is located on more than 50 highly defensible acres that abut the George Washington National Forest.

  • From the road, it appears to be a simple two-story log cabin.
  • A driveway leads to a newer three-story cabin.
  • The entire facility is purposely designed to be inconspicuous.

Prepare With Fortitude

Fortitude Ranch believes one should “Prepare for the Worst … Enjoy the Present,” according to its motto. To help members prepare, the ranch offers a wide range of on-site survival training.

Highlights include:

  • Firearms training and stationary target practice
  • Bonding among members to strengthen group survival
  • Outdoor range with safe backstop (no electronic targeting yet)

Due to 10 inches of snow before our visit, we were unable to reach the range.

The property includes three covert surveillance structures:

  • A specialty gazebo
  • A tower hidden amongst trees
  • Another concealed cabin

The shooting range lies just beyond these. The ranch also maintains farm animals and garden areas.

When not in crisis mode, the ranch serves as a vacation getaway. This adds value to membership and allows use of the facilities year-round.

We toured the beautiful two-story cabin, which used to be a private home before Disaster Preparedness LLC purchased it. It looked like a modern vacation home – no sandbags or fortified shutters in sight.

Fortitude Ranch Members

According to Rene, Fortitude has approximately 100 current members with varying backgrounds. Many come from Washington D.C. and work in federal agencies, bringing valuable skills to the community.

I found Fortitude to be well-engineered and strategically designed. It’s clear the focus is on security and self-reliance in the event of societal collapse.

Facilities also include a medical room equipped with:

  • Supplies and first aid materials
  • An exam table
  • A hospital bed

Visit FortitudeRanch.com to learn more. Their site includes:

  • Membership fee details
  • Photo galleries
  • Investment opportunities

With more ranches being planned around critical areas of the U.S., now may be the time to get involved.

About Scott W. Wagner

Scott W. Wagner has been a law enforcement officer since 1980, working undercover in liquor and narcotics investigations and as a member, sniper, and assistant team leader of a SWAT team.

He currently works as a patrol sergeant. Scott is a certified firearms instructor, qualified to train in:

  • Revolvers
  • Semi-automatic pistols
  • Shotguns
  • Semi- and fully-automatic patrol rifles
  • Submachine guns

He also serves as a criminal justice professor and police academy commander.