By Jim Weiker, The Columbus Dispatch
COLUMBUS – A Texas development company is looking at hundreds of acres in Jackson County for its second luxury survivalist community.
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Company officials say the Ohio development will be similar to their 700-acre Trident Lakes community underway northeast of Dallas that will combine off-the-grid fortress living with resort amenities.
The Texas community “is a five-star playground equipped with DEFCON 1 preparedness,” according to the developer, Vintuary Holdings of Dallas.
Vintuary spokesman Richie Whitt said the company “has identified and is close to purchasing” a similar-sized piece of property in Jackson County for its second community. He would not identify the location.
Plans call for the Trident Lakes in Texas to include as many as 500 earth-sheltered condominiums ranging from 900 to 3,600 square feet. The community is designed to be self-sustaining in the event of an emergency and would include water, food and electricity sources.
A network of tunnels would run under the property, which would be guarded by watchtowers and surrounded by a 12-foot wall. Other features would include a DNA vault, helipads and air-lock doors.
In addition to security and sustainability features, Trident Lakes would include several luxury perks such as a golf course, horse facilities, sand-beach lakes, jogging trails, polo fields, gun ranges, a spa and zip lines.
“We’re not just a hole in the ground to hide in,” said Trident Lakes CEO James O’Connor.