A man’s home is his castle, but what if a well-secured moat isn’t enough? In luxury homes, there’s one way of dealing with hostile outsiders: high-tailing it to a safe room.
These built-in panic rooms are expensive (costing upward of $100,000) and can feature closed-circuit TV, weapons, MREs, and external phone lines.
“We now see middle-class folks converting bedrooms and taking notice of changing neighborhoods, economic times, inability to exit fast, and investing in a safe zone as a last-stand precaution should civil disobedience occur,” says Jim Angleton, CEO of AEGIS FinServ.
While the following seven homes equipped with safe rooms are a bit beyond the means of the middle class, they are state-of-the-art when it comes to safety.
Robin Williams’ estate in Napa Valley, CA
Price: $22.9 million
Safe words: Villa Sorriso happens to be the estate of the late Robin Williams. The 20,000-square-foot, Mediterranean-style main house sits on 654 acres marked by olive trees, vineyards, and riding trails. The main house features three (!) safe rooms, which will come in handy if dastardly wine thieves somehow make it on to the property.
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Island estate in Guilford, CT
Price: $15 million
Safe words: A 3.49-acre estate among the Thimble Islands, this Georgian-style mansion built in 2004 features a private beach, elevator, and safe room. The 7,445-square-foot house is backed by a “whole house generator,” and the grounds include a private well, so you could truly shut yourself off from the outside world.
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1036 Summit Dr, Beverly Hills, CA
Price: $24.9 million
Safe words: The interior of this 11,000-square-foot, Mediterranean-style house was designed by Juan Pablo Molyneux, a Chilean maximalist decorator. The five-bedroom home features gold flake detailing, a patio and fountain featuring handmade Portuguese tile, antique fireplaces, and a Kevlar-lined safe room.
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2 W La Coste Ct, Rogers, AR
Price: $5.5 million
Safe words: This French Provincial–style estate is loaded with special features, including Amish beams, hardwood floors from a Tibetan temple, and custom French crystal chandeliers. It has six bedrooms, a library, a wine cellar and, of course, a safe room.
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1203 Glenwood Ave, Oklahoma City, OK
Price: $2.2 million
Safe words: Custom-built in 2002, this European-inspired mansion features vaulted ceilings with massive wood beams, three cast-stone fireplaces, a wood-burning oven, and a wine cellar with a tasting room. In the 1,625-square-foot basement you’ll find a wine cellar, a media room, and a safe room.
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2018 W Magatsu Cir, Saint George, UT
Price: $2.795 million
Safe words: This resort-style mansion is nestled among red mountains, and $150,000 worth of furnishings is included in the listing price. The home features a sliding glass wall, a smart home/theater system, a pool with water features, an elevator, and a walk-in safe room.
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906 Druid Rd S, Clearwater, FL
Price: $5.9 million
Safe words: Located in Clearwater Harbor, this sprawling seven-bedroom mansion comes with a two-story living room with a two-way fireplace, a kitchen with two wall ovens, and a safe room. The latter is located in the basement, sharing the lower level with a game room, bar, exercise room, and guest suite.
