Unusual Hard Luck Mine Castle – A Preppers Paradise!

Located deep in the Nevada Desert, 200 miles from Las Vegas and over an hour’s drive from the closest town, is a property that can only be described as a ‘Preppers Dream’. The Hard Luck Mine Castle is what you get when you cross the Wild West with a modern-day castle.

Currently on the market at $699,900, if you’re a prepper, hate people, or simply want some peace and quiet, Hard Luck Mine Castle could be the perfect home for you!

THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE

Built between 2000 and 2012 by Randy Johnston, this modern-day castle was built to last. Johnston purchased the land in 1998, after checking with Esmerelda County he soon learned that any property he built on his land didn’t require inspection, so he could build anything he wanted, with whatever materials he wanted.

What originally started out as a 50-foot round home that could deal with strong winds soon turned into a four-story castle with 16-inch thick walls and 22 different rooms.

Despite loving the home he built, Randy, who is now 73-years old, has decided to sell up. Randy wished to put an end to his secluded lifestyle and travel the country in his trailer with his two dogs.

Randy first put Hard Luck Mine Castle on the market for $3.2 million, however, after failing to gather any interest he slashed the price to $1.5 million in 2016. Since 2016 the price has dropped numerous times, going from $1.5 million to $950,000, to then $750,000, and now $699,900.

Finding a buyer for such a quirky and remote property in the middle of the Nevada Desert has been very tricky. It appears there are not too many people are cut out for living such a secluded lifestyle. Surely a prepper would love to get there hands on it?

THE HOUSE TODAY

This four-bedroom, three-bathroom home features a total of 22 rooms, 8,000 feet of living space. It also comes with 40 acres of land and numerous outbuildings and if that’s not enough it also has its very own gold mine!

The property runs off the grid, with a 40,000-gallon underground water tank, with solar and wind generating power.

The main entrance to the property, the green door is a nod to the Wizard of Oz, as you will see inside.

Inside the foyer is a yellow labyrinth that represents the Yellow Brick Road in the Wizard of Oz.

Once inside the property, you find yourself in a large foyer with doors that lead to a dining area, the ‘Great Room’, and a spiral staircase that leads up to the top floor.

From the foyer and you can enter one of the larger rooms in the property. Known as ‘The Great Room’, this room features a Wurlitzer Organ from the 1920s and hangs from the 28-foot ceiling.

The spiral staircase wraps around a chandelier and water fountain, leading up to the observatory on the roof.

At the top of the property is a stargazer’s dream! Johnston built an observatory on top of the castle to take in the surrounding landscape. This also offers great views of the night sky…and nearby military test site.

The property has two kitchens on different floors, while they might not be considered modern, they are both fully functional.

Outside of the kitchen dining tables are two other dining areas. The indoor dining room featuring a mural of the Nevada Desert, and another outdoor eating area near the front entrance.

Hard Luck Mine Castle has a total of four bedrooms spread across the four floors of the property. Two of which are located in the basement.

The main bathroom is located on the third floor of the property, there are three in total.

Down in the basement area is a man-cave with home theatre, featuring a number of slot machines.

Another room featuring an organ, and one of Randy’s dogs, you can also see a propane heater to the left. On cold winter days temperatures can dip below 20, therefore all 22 rooms have a propane heater.

Despite being in the desert the property has no cooling system. The cinder blocks used on the property keep the home cool throughout the summer months.

Outside the observatory on the roof of the property is a viewing deck, offering 360-degree views of the surrounding desert.

Among the outbuildings that come with the property are the miner’s cabin and a fully functional garage. The miner’s cabin has recently been remodeled and sleeps up to four people.

A monument to US history, featuring the names of every US president.

The 160-foot mine from which the property got its name was in use from 1897 until World War II. Despite no gold being dug for at the site in more than half a century, it is still believed to be ‘high in gold content’.