A Hidden Surprise

Jon Simms bought a new property in 2015 without thinking something big was about to happen. However, he was about to get surprised. As he was going through his house's blueprints, he stumbled on something different that caught his attention. It turned out; there was something hidden in his backyard that would prove to be a boon for him. After getting to know what it was, you will wish you were as lucky as this guy. And you never know, a small decision can bring about drastic changes in your life. It is just a matter of time and luck. Keep reading to know what happened after.

Extra Room

There was a hiding place underground as per the blueprints, but the only challenge was to locate it as it was buried underneath the soil. After identifying the spot with the help of the blueprints, Simms had no other option but to dig the ground by using a shovel. He was sure that he would find something as the prints indicated an extra room buried underground. Little did he know that a big surprise was waiting for him, and soon he realized that he needed external help to reveal what was inside. So, what did he see when he started digging? You will soon know!

The Blueprints

Jon’s new property was quite old, and therefore it was a possibility that a lot of secrets were buried here. You will be surprised to know that the house was built in the 1960s and the plans of the hidden room must have been prepared at the same time when work was being done on the house’s plans. In case Jon would not have noticed the plans of the hidden room, chances are he would have never guessed about its existence. Luckily, he did not lose them, and it is incredible how these prints have survived even after all the years.

Digging Deep

Jon started the task of digging without any idea about what he would find underneath the soil. Not to mention, he had to dig a lot before he could find what was laying underground. Even though it was a challenging task, he stayed put and kept digging until his shovel hit a material made up of metal. Jon was unsure what he discovered because he still needed to look deep inside to understand what he was looking at after digging. What do you think he found out? Was it something that took him entirely by surprise? Read further to know more.

An Entrance

Not giving up on his quest, Jon kept digging until he could spot a metallic ring in the ground. He could not believe that something this big had been sitting in his backyard for all these years, and he had no clue about it. After brainstorming for a long while, Jon understood that he had discovered an entrance that led to a room. So, after all, the blueprints were pointing to the right place, and Jon’s suspicion turned into a reality. He realized that this significant discovery could mean only one thing. What exactly was going in his mind? And what did he do after this?

A Shelter

As Jon tried to get a glimpse of what was inside the lid, he realized that it was an abandoned shelter. He took some help from his friends and tried to pry off the lid. The space looked huge and rusty since it had not been in use for many years. It seemed like the place needed a lot of repairs. Jon was quite excited about this new discovery, but he was also scared about what could possibly be underneath the soil. What if it was something that would do him more harm than good? Either way, he was about to find out soon.

Difficult to Open

Once the metallic lid was discovered, the next step was to get it out of the ground to see what was inside. However, it was easier said than done as it turned out to be quite a challenging task. To make things easier, Jon took other men's help to lift the lid and used an iron bar to achieve that. This shows that whoever designed this secret room ensured that nobody could break into it even after it was discovered. They were well protected inside and knew that nothing could harm them. Undoubtedly, it was an exciting thing, and Jon couldn't wait to see what lay inside.

A Dirty Staircase

After spending a lot of time at it, Jon and company finally managed to extract the lid and see what was inside. It turns out; there was a long staircase that led to the actual room. The stairs were covered with dirt and metal debris. It seemed like one had to travel a while to reach the desired destination. Jon must have been taken aback while waiting in anticipation to find out what was behind all this. A whole new world waited to be discovered, and Jon was in no way ready for such a big shock. Well, the story does not end here as there is more to come!

Finding the Entrance

After discovering the staircase, Jon took the steps to see the room downstairs. Since the room had been closed for years together, he had to watch his step in case the stairs would give way. It was a serious possibility as the stairs could have been undergone weathering under the soil. Therefore, he had to be extremely careful with every step that he took. However, he reached the end of the stairs safely and started looking for the room entrance. He could not wait to see what he had been finding for so long finally. Was he surprised at the results?

A Hiding Place

He came across a small nozzle made up of metal and quickly understood that it was used for letting fresh air inside since the room was buried underground. Just imagine what could happen if this nozzle was blocked? People inside would not be able to breathe and could die. It is an innovative concept, and whoever came up with this idea must have been a genius. One more exciting thing was that the room was in fairly good condition even after being locked up for so many years. It could have been a wasted space had Jon not spotted it on the blueprint.

Emergency Drinking Water

Jon searched the room and discovered some goodies that were left behind from a long time back. He came across numerous cans of drinking water that were still unused. These emergency water cans pointed out that whoever built the secret room had made sure that there were enough supplies for a considerable amount of time. Even though the water was now unfit for drinking, many things pointed out that this was a hiding place. But the mystery was still unsolved, and Jon’s curiosity was at its peak as he rummaged through the debris. For instance, who were these people, and who were they hiding from in this place?

Eating Supply

Besides finding emergency drinking water cans, Jon also found four large drums filled with wafers. However, since it was too old, they were no more in an edible state. It also showed that someone had been preparing to stay in the hideout for a long period. To get a more clear perspective, Jon decided to clean the place to find out more. The place was a total mess since no one had been here for ages. However, Jon was ready to tidy up the place in order to find more clues and understand how people could live in a place like this.

Cleaning the Place

Jon and his friends began the cleaning process. Looking at the room's condition, they knew it would be a challenging task to clear out the place, which was filled with dirt and debris. They got several plastic bins and took them to the hiding place in which they filled debris and broken pieces of cement. After filling up the buckets, they carried them out of the hiding room. They were tired from cleaning out the place but back in their minds; they knew it was going to be worth it. They couldn't wait to find out what the place looked like without all the mess.

A Complete Different Look

After spending long hours cleaning the whole place, Jon was finally rewarded for his hard work. With no debris, the place took on a completely different look, and he was surprised to see how large the room was without all the mess. Jon could clearly see the floors and the walls, and his joy knew no bounds. The place could easily accommodate numerous people. Jon could not believe what he saw and couldn’t wait to put the place to fair use. Earlier, he had expected to find a small room, but this was a large hall with spacious rooms. What a pleasant surprise!

Replacing the Staircase

Now that the place was clean, the next thing to do was replace all the rusted stairs as it was still unsafe to board them. The sensible thing to do was to place something more secure in place of them. Since the staircase was covered with nails and metal edges, he would definitely hurt himself if somebody tripped on it. It was yet another hard task as the stairs were well ingrained in the floor. However, they made sure that they got the job done to proceed with the next step. Jon was all excited as he thought of all that he could with this fantastic place.

Sturdy Entry

The only difficulty that Jon and his friends were facing is that they did not have a secure entry to the hiding place. They pried off the center beam and installed a strong new staircase that was freshly painted and easy to use. With this new development, it was much easier to visit the hiding place without being scared of falling and hurting yourself. The new stairs gave a different look to the place, and Jon thought of how he could utilize this newly discovered place. He proceeded with the new plan step by step, and this surprise was amazingly good for him.

The Place Needed a New Entrance

With the stairs ready to use, the next task at hand was to create a more appealing entrance. For now, it was just a vast pit that gave way to a cement tube. From the outside, one could not guess what was lying on the inside. Since the inside was so attractive, it was time to rebuild the entry door.  It would mean they had to think innovatively and come up with something that would not damage the hideout. Jon and his friends sat together and started brainstorming ideas. It was time to get creative and develop a new plan that would make the place look even better.

Constructing the Entryway

The opening of the hideout was messy and demanded a revamp, so Jon and his friends surrounded it with a vast circular cement lid. To make sure the measurements were accurate, they put wooden planks that braced the lid. As for the extra space, they filled it with wet concrete, which gave it a better appearance. With the new entrance, the place looked a whole lot better, and one could guess there was a nice pace inside the entry. Jon wanted to put all his efforts into renovating the hiding place, and he did a great job. All his hard work was finally bearing fruits.

The Final Product

Just take a look at the final product! It looks terrific, and all the credit goes to Jon and his friends who invested their efforts in revamping the place. They deserve all the appreciation for making this place look so much better by clearing out all the debris. Even though it took them several days to complete all the tasks, the end product makes it worthwhile. They started with digging a hole and ended with this fantastic underground hall. What a rare and fulfilling experience it might have been for Jon. While buying the property, it must have never even crossed his mind.

An Amazing Place

Not just the entrance but the inside of the hiding room looked great as well. The rooms were spacious and could be used for various other things. It was all up to Jon how he wanted to put the space to use and what he had in mind. He could use it as a personal space to chill with his friends. After all, he and his buddies worked so hard to turn this hideout into a great place. Many people will be excited to see this cool place after they come to know about its existence. It is amazing how things changed for Jon!

A Similar Experience

Though Jon’s case seems to be quite unique, there is another couple, Colleen and Chris Otcasek, who experienced the same thing when they bought a new house in Woodland Hills, California. As the duo settled down in their new home, they were taken aback by a new surprise. It turns out there was a hiding space in their backyard about which they had no clue. When buying the house, the couple was not made aware of this mysterious hideout place, and they had no idea what was waiting for them. Maybe all of us should check our backyards before buying a new house. You never know!

A New Surprise

Initially, the couple had taken a tour of the house with their realtor. However, even though they had come across this hole, they did not think about it much. It was only after settling down, did they decide to examine this hole. Little did they know, it was a huge opening that led to a hiding place. Imagine the shock and surprise this couple might have experienced at the time of its discovery. They must have freaked out in the beginning because who wouldn’t? A lot of things must have crossed their minds, but maybe it was something right after all! Read further to find out more.

Exploring

Once the couple realized there was a hiding place right in their backyard, they decided to explore more to gather ample information. Following their instincts, they climbed down the hole in order to get a closer look at the place. They had a lot of questions in mind, and they were a bit skeptical about the place because they were entirely curious about what was waiting behind the hole. While the whole experience was exciting, they must have been scared to know what was actually happening in their surroundings. They had no clue what was going on, and they were in for a big surprise!

A Fallout Shelter

After climbing down the hole, Colleen and Chris started exploring the hideout. They soon realized that the place was a hiding place, and it was filled with things that are important for survival. To help them document the whole experience, the couple approached KPCC, a local radio station. There was a lot to cover, and the couple was intrigued by what they saw in front of them. It seemed like somebody lived there a long time back, and they had stocked the place with all the necessities. They were curious to know more about the place, and they couldn’t wait to explore the place thoroughly.

A Room for Four

The hiding place was small and pretty. It was a perfect living space, and it had everything that one could possibly wish for. For instance, there were essential supplies, including magazines, clothing, medicine, and food. So, if there was a nuclear attack or anything that was gravely dangerous, a family could easily take shelter here. Whoever designed the shelter must have planned everything quite efficiently as one could find everything here. The couple was taken aback by this new discovery and were in awe of the new place. It was a surprise that they did not see it coming. What would they do next?

Finding Answers

After making this intriguing discovery, Colleen and Chris were quite curious about the whole affair, and they had every reason to be. They wanted to do some thorough research and dig up details from the past. In order to achieve that, they decided to connect with some local media outlets who could help them find out the actual owners of this place. The history of the place was the only key to finding the answers to these questions. After investing some time in the research, they were introduced to a woman named Debrah Kaufman. Soon, they would come to know about many things.

Finding the Owner

After fixing a meet with Deborah, the couple got a chance to interact with her directly. While having a conversation with her, she confessed that her father, Alvin Kaufman, built the shelter in the year 1961. With the intention to safeguard oneself from a nuclear attack, he had deliberately constructed the room fifteen feet beneath the ground. He had been particular about the location and the design, which was evident from the way the house looked. The couple were amazed at this piece of information and thought about how they had come across this great surprise. They were still analyzing the day’s events.

The Reason Behind the Room’s Construction

By profession, Alvin was a self-taught nuclear engineer. He was well aware of the disastrous impact of a nuclear attack and how it had the power to devastate people's lives. He was scared by the whole thing, so he decided to construct a hiding room underground. Alvin was quite fearful about it and had even offered to build a giant fallout shelter that would accommodate an entire neighborhood. How amazing would that be! To alleviate the fears of dying in a nuclear attack, Alvin had come up with this stunning idea. This was pure genius. And even after so many years, the room was in good condition.

All the Essentials

After proposing this idea to his neighbors, they outright rejected the offer. However, Alvin went forward with his plan and started constructing a shelter that would comfortably accommodate his family. Once deciding on the room's size, Alvin stocked the place with all the essential items one would need for survival in case a nuclear attack happened. For instance, there was a water tank, sufficient food, air filters, and a sleeping area for his family. All in all, they had everything to survive a disaster. Alvin had put in a lot of planning in the whole process and had come up with a fantastic design.

All That You Need is Here

You will be amazed to know that Alvin had thoroughly planned out everything. While the hiding place was stocked with essential things, he had also included assorted items that you would find in a real house. The idea was to create a livable environment, so that one did not get a feeling like he was living in an alien space. He had even kept paper towels and plastic bags. So, if somebody did get stuck here, he would not miss out on life’s many privileges. How cool is that? It must have kept Alvin in harmony to think about having a nice place for hiding.

All the Things Were Preserved

In reality, a nuclear attack never happened, so Alvin could not really put the hiding place to use, although it was quite a time capsule that deserved all the appreciation. The room was still full of all those items wrapped in plastic bags, and they were all preserved. So, they could still be used even though it had been so many years. Just imagine the couple’s surprise after coming across all this. We bet it would have taken them a considerable time to sink in what was actually happening. All of this must-have never crossed their minds while making the purchase. Things happen in mysterious ways!

Time Travel

After stepping into the hiding room, Collen and Chris felt like they had boarded a time machine that had taken them to the good old days of the 1960s. They came across items that you would only find in those days, and they couldn’t contain their happiness. All the places they looked, they would find an item from that era. Not to mention, there was Dixie Cups as well that looked adorable and charming. The duo set out to explore the whole place to understand what was going on in the owner’s mind. It seemed like they had traveled back in time and were experiencing new things.

Unused Clothes

The fallout shelter was also filled with clothes that were still unused. It was because no one had actually lived there and it was like a small version of Alvin Kaufman’s real house back when he was living there. He had kept clean clothes in the hiding place just if there was an emergency, and they had to shift there on short notice. Thankfully some of the clothes were still in fashion and could be used. All the planning was intricate and well thought of, as is evident from the way Alvin planned everything. He deserves a pat on the back for all this!

Medical Supplies

In case a nuclear attack would happen, Alvin had thought of how he would ensure that his family was protected. All that he wanted was to keep his family alive if something like that would happen. While he stocked the place with all the necessary items that a person would require to make it out alive and he made sure that they had enough medical supplies in case of emergency. Since they could not leave the hideout in those conditions, Alvin had made sure to keep enough supplies so that they did not have the need to leave the bunker at any cost. Well, this was an important thing!

A Glimpse At the Old Medicines

Colleen and Chris went through the medical supplies and were surprised to see some of the drugs. It was an exciting discovery, and they had a chance to get a glimpse at what were the required medicines at that time. Even though these medicines were not so old, they still passed their expiration date. So, they were useless for the couple. But the duo was amazed to see how Alvin had prepared for the nuclear attack. However, they were still unsure about how they would make use of the space. Anyway, they had plenty of time to think about that.