Secret Underground Bases Exposed

Have you ever wondered if those rumors about sprawling military complexes deep underground are true? Is there really a secret world humming beneath us, hidden from the majority of humanity? It's a tantalizing idea that has inspired countless books, documentaries, and late-night conversations. On a recent episode of Things Visible and Invisible, researcher Richard Sauder shares his decades of investigation into the clandestine realm of underground military bases. What he reveals might leave you questioning how much we really know about what lies below.

Hidden Depths: Myths, Whispers, and Startling Realities

Richard Sauder’s fascination with underground military bases started back in the 1980s after moving to the American Southwest—a region known for its strange stories and sweeping deserts. Whispers of secret installations, government conspiracies, and even rumors of cooperation with extraterrestrial entities piqued his curiosity. For most, these tales would remain just that—stories. But an inexplicable experience in 1991 pushed Sauder to dig deeper. One night, he claims he heard a voice tell him, "The underground bases are real," accompanied by a vivid mental image of a cavernous, high-tech facility bustling with beings—human, alien, or possibly both.

Skeptical yet intrigued, Sauder dove into years of dedicated research. He scoured government records, technical archives, and industrial documentation, eventually confirming beyond doubt that underground and underwater bases exist—at least, those that are publicly acknowledged. As he continued, Sauder discovered a perplexing pattern: the more significant and secretive these bases, the harder it became to find reliable information. He encountered what he calls “limited hangouts”—a drip-feed of partial truths, obscured by layers of secrecy and distraction. Why is it so hard for the public to access the full story?

Publicly Known—and Carefully Guarded—Facilities

For those wondering if underground military facilities are just a Cold War relic or a product of overactive imagination, Sauder points to several well-documented examples. America’s Mount Weather in Virginia serves as a continuity-of-government bunker, ready to shelter top officials in a crisis. Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado is home to NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, embedded deep within granite to withstand almost anything. Even the famous Camp David has extensive subterranean levels, though their scale and purpose remain shrouded in mystery.

Sauder explains that while some of these installations were built with national defense in mind—protecting top leadership in the event of catastrophe—the level of secrecy and the sheer scope of their construction suggests more is going on than simple bunker-building. He highlights that underground infrastructure is not unique to the United States. Russia, China, Iran, and other nations have their own secretive subterranean networks. Throughout history, from the ancient underground cities of Turkey and Egypt to massive bunkers of the World Wars, humanity has always recognized the strategic advantage of going underground. Yet in the modern era, particularly post-World War II, this practice has grown far more sophisticated and covert.

From Ancient Tunnels to Modern Marvels

Human beings have been digging and living beneath the earth for thousands of years. But the 20th century saw a technological explosion in underground engineering. Sauder recounts how, after World War II, German experts in subterranean construction were brought to the United States to further America’s underground military ambitions. By the time President Eisenhower took office in the 1950s, dozens of presidential bolt-holes—secret shelters—had been built across the country, many of which likely remain in use today.

The construction and maintenance of these colossal facilities is no small feat. Sauder names major U.S. corporations—think Black & Veatch, Lockheed Martin, Bechtel, and more—who’ve been involved in the secretive world of tunnel boring and underground fortress building. Despite this massive investment, the general public is kept largely in the dark about the true extent of this underground infrastructure, raising questions not just about secrecy, but also about accountability.

Dark Money, Darker Programs

Perhaps most unsettling is what Sauder and other researchers have uncovered about the shadowy funding behind these projects. Financial analyst Catherine Austin Fitts estimates that at least $27 trillion have disappeared into America’s "black budget"—enough to fund a parallel secret economy. According to Sauder, a significant portion of this unaccounted money is channeled into building and operating underground and underwater bases.

The secrecy goes beyond the existence of the bases themselves. Sauder alleges that programs operating out of these facilities include so-called "special access programs"—operations so compartmentalized that even insiders rarely have the full picture. Some whistleblowers have told stories of mind control experiments, clandestine technology development, and disturbing psychological manipulation—all protected by a near impenetrable wall of confidentiality, enforced by non-disclosure agreements and, as Sauder claims, outright intimidation.

One haunting account Sauder shares involves a woman who, as a child, was allegedly taken to a Virginia underground facility for mind-control training as part of a CIA program. Her story, though impossible to independently verify, echoes testimonies from others who claim to have been involved in similar projects. The suggestion is clear: these bases serve purposes far beyond sheltering officials during emergencies.

Why Should We Care?

For many, tales of secret bases—especially with overtones of conspiracy and dark government activity—trigger skepticism or even dismissal. But Sauder argues that apathy is exactly what enables unchecked power. If trillions of taxpayer dollars are siphoned off for secret projects, with no transparency or public oversight, it raises serious ethical, financial, and democratic concerns. What are these facilities really for? Who benefits? And what are the potential risks, both to civil liberties and to the fabric of open society?

The evidence presented may not definitively confirm every theory, but it paints a compelling picture: Underground military and intelligence bases are not just the stuff of fiction or fringe media—they are a real, evolving element of global security infrastructure. And as long as secrecy and shadow finances rule the day, the public may never know what truly lies beneath their feet.

Takeaway: Digging Deeper for Truth

Exploring the reality of underground military bases is like peeling back layers of an onion—each new discovery leads to more questions. While covert operations and secret facilities may be justified by governments as necessary for security, history shows that unchecked secrecy often drifts into abuse or, at the very least, waste. The challenge is clear: Demand transparency, ask tough questions, and stay curious about the invisible systems shaping our world.

If this journey into the hidden side of military infrastructure has intrigued you, consider following Richard Sauder's work on Substack or delving into his books for more. Supporting investigative media, sharing stories, and advocating for government accountability are the first steps in making the unseen seen. Because sometimes, the most important truths aren't found in the daylight—they’re buried deep below the surface.

📕 Guest: Richard Sauder

Richard is a noted author and researcher focused on underground and underwater bases, electronic mind control, human prehistory, and alternative history. Since 1992, he has investigated secret military tunnels and black-budget projects, publishing books like “Underground Bases and Tunnels,” “Underwater and Underground Bases,” and “Hidden in Plain Sight: Beyond the X-Files.”

📝Substack: https://substack.com/@richardsauder