4suchatimeasthis
09-24-2012, 04:54 PM
I grew up on a beautiful farm in northern Wisconsin. My parents have a great place, but have downsized a bit since us kids grew up and moved away. My sisters and I have each of moved over 15 hrs away from "home", unfortunately they don't get to see the grand babies very often. So they started this great tradition where every summer, for two weeks, they take off from work (they are young, 50 and 57, still working full time) and have all the grand kids over for "Granny Camp". Mom and Dad play camp counselors and do everything you can think of with them, they say it's the highlight of their year, and they spend the rest of the year dreaming up next years themes and activities.
Anyway, this last spring my dad was laid off for a few months (typical for loggers up there, lay off for "break up" when the frost comes out of the ground you can't haul timber on the roads) so he aimed his sights at the old silo that had been empty and unused for decades....and he made a castle out of it!
It got me thinking, you could easily make something like that into an emergency BOL, or even for storage of preps. The bottom 8 ft or so are actually under ground, the silo has the "dungeon" as a basement level, then three levels above that. Dad added on a top wooden "cap" and put in 6 windows all around the top. Now, his was designed for the grand kids to play in, so camouflage was not part of the design at all, but I think you could come up with something. Even if you just had sky lights in the top, maybe glass block instead of regular windows, some sort of peep holes....I don't really know, but I'm sure creative minds could come up with all sorts of possibilities!
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/318698_10151938384770235_1782767785_n.jpg - a castle tower!
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/575906_10151938387270235_1521675427_n.jpg - Dad had to build a door from scratch, because obviously it was an odd size. You could probably make one that looked less like a door, and more like just part of the wall. Or, better yet, do a ladder that drops down from the top, and pulls up behind you.
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/484545_10151938385275235_1519100009_n.jpg - you can see how he constructed it. This is right inside the door. And yes, that is a real coat of armor, 6 ft tall, dad got from a buddy, that kinda inspired the whole project.
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/582003_10151938385495235_1782519444_n.jpg - going upstairs to the 2nd level. You can see how he used the poles to support the next floor up.
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/376184_10151938385685235_603665787_n.jpg - and the 3rd level, a good view of the stairs going up to the "penthouse", lol. And my cute niece
- - - Updated - - -
The rest of the pictures....
Anyway, this last spring my dad was laid off for a few months (typical for loggers up there, lay off for "break up" when the frost comes out of the ground you can't haul timber on the roads) so he aimed his sights at the old silo that had been empty and unused for decades....and he made a castle out of it!
It got me thinking, you could easily make something like that into an emergency BOL, or even for storage of preps. The bottom 8 ft or so are actually under ground, the silo has the "dungeon" as a basement level, then three levels above that. Dad added on a top wooden "cap" and put in 6 windows all around the top. Now, his was designed for the grand kids to play in, so camouflage was not part of the design at all, but I think you could come up with something. Even if you just had sky lights in the top, maybe glass block instead of regular windows, some sort of peep holes....I don't really know, but I'm sure creative minds could come up with all sorts of possibilities!
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/318698_10151938384770235_1782767785_n.jpg - a castle tower!
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/575906_10151938387270235_1521675427_n.jpg - Dad had to build a door from scratch, because obviously it was an odd size. You could probably make one that looked less like a door, and more like just part of the wall. Or, better yet, do a ladder that drops down from the top, and pulls up behind you.
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/484545_10151938385275235_1519100009_n.jpg - you can see how he constructed it. This is right inside the door. And yes, that is a real coat of armor, 6 ft tall, dad got from a buddy, that kinda inspired the whole project.
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/582003_10151938385495235_1782519444_n.jpg - going upstairs to the 2nd level. You can see how he used the poles to support the next floor up.
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/376184_10151938385685235_603665787_n.jpg - and the 3rd level, a good view of the stairs going up to the "penthouse", lol. And my cute niece
- - - Updated - - -
The rest of the pictures....