Question of the Day - 03 August 2022

Located at what used to be protected as a "secret location," which is in fact 3970 Spencer Street, Henderson, today the 16,500-square-foot Underground House is concealed 25 feet beneath an innocuous-looking modern home. But back in the early '70s when it was built, the only clue to the dwelling's buried existence was a wrought-iron fence and electronic gates that seemed to mark the beginning of a driveway leading to nowhere.

The explanation for this strange phenomenon dates back to the 1960s and the era of Cold War paranoia. Having amassed a fortune from Avon cosmetics, Gulfstream aircraft, and various other sources, business tycoon Girard "Gerry" B. Henderson and his wife Mary became convinced of the threat of imminent nuclear destruction and grew fascinated with the concept of underground living. So enamored of underground living was Henderson that he sponsored the "Underground Home" exhibit at the 1964-'65 World's Fair.

The couple's dream was not simply to build an austere nuclear bunker to run to in case of emergency; they wanted to live in a permanent state of subterranean security, privacy, and peace. So they turned to Texas building contractor Jay Swayze, pioneer of the atomic habitat or "Atomitat."

Swayze and his brother had already built a 3,400-square-foot home 13 feet underground in Plainview, Texas, and they now turned their talents to realizing the Hendersons' dream, first on their property in Colorado, then with a more ambitious design in Las Vegas, where Jerry and Mary resided until their deaths in the 1980s. 

The Underground House was sold in 2014 to the Society for the Preservation of Near Extinct Species, a group that promotes human life extension, which paid $1.15 million for it. They also reportedly spent more than $1 million on improvements to the sewage and electrical systems and staging the house with 1970s' furniture. 

You can donate to the cause and/or see three dozen updated photos of the place at the website.

As far as we know, Vegas Specialty Tours, the tour company that also does the Vegas and Goodsprings Ghost Hunts and the Vegas Mob Tour, is still doing the Underground House Tour. It's $500 for one to three people, $150 per person for five or more. If you're interested, you can call for information: 702-677-9015.