We Bought an Abandoned Airport | Risked our Life Savings

I found this abandoned air-ranch listed on Zillow while we were walking around a used auto part flea market. I showed the listing to the wife but the wife wasn't hearing it! How could she be so mean? I had just bought her a hot dog. She calmly explained: "We don't have the money and it's in the middle of nowhere!" I said: "It just dropped to $399K from $1M!" It was a Sunday afternoon and I was feeling impulsive so I told her I would buy her Mexican food if she just rode along with me to look at it. I said let's just look at it from the road, just for fun, and we we definitely wont buy it. She reluctantly agreed while she looked up Mexican food restaurant reviews on her phone and I drove in silence to avoid messing up the deal.

Four hours later we were on a dirt road in front of a barbed-wire fence. I opened the door of her little black Jeep and let the wife out to get a feel for the area. We didn't dare cross the fence for fear of being shot (you don't do that in the desert!). So we walked the perimeter and she made no expression of happiness or dismay at me. I kept my mouth shut and we drove to get her a Chimi and me some tacos. We drove home and I didn't push the issue.... much.

The next morning she woke up and said "I want that house!" I called my realtor (my brother's wife) and asked about a showing. The news was bad, the selling agent was booked-up since the price-cut and didn't have a showing for at least a week! She mentioned that it would most likely sell this week since her phone was ringing off the hook. The wife and I looked though the listing photos again and I picked up the phone and asked Liz (my realtor) to make a cash offer. I knew the property was in disrepair by the photos and no bank would want to finance it. The selling agent called Liz and said she had an opening for a showing later the same day. It was noon on Monday and the showing was at 3. A quick check of maps showed the drive-time to be just under 4 hours.

The Uniden R3 (Link in the description) showed no Smokey Bears as it hung in the windshield of the Jeep by it's freshly spit-wet suction cup. We were flying at exactly the speed limit towards the ranch. I had a 3 hour drive and that was good, I needed the time to think. See, I knew that a cash offer gave us an advantage in the offer pile. The only problem was we didn't have the cash! It was just the wife and I in the Jeep, the wind noise was terrible as was the hum of the KO2s threatening to send their tread into orbit.

We got to the front gate, my agent couldn't make it to the showing (stupid Liz, she had 45 min notice) so we were going to meet with the selling agent. Already at the gate was another black Jeep, in the ugly Jeep was a guy and gal waiting for their showing. It turns out we had made good time. We drove a quarter mile down the road to wait our turn while the two crooks wandered around my house! I hated them! The wife told me to calm down, I picked up a handful of sand and let it run through my fingers.

When we saw the stupid black Jeep pulled out of the drive way it was our turn. I thought about selling my Jeep because they just aren't cool as I drove up to the house. The realtor was great, we walked the property and we saw it needed ton's of repairs. Well, this should probably be a video of it's own. Long story short we sold our Jet-skis, my Pathfinder, cashed in retirement, and used whatever money I had from selling my business and we closed... this is that story, enjoy!

[MattsAwesomeStuff]

Herb, I've never had so much second hand happiness for someone. I let out a deep sigh and felt like everything was just right. I don't believe in any kind of mysticism but there is something heartwarming about two puzzle pieces clicking together. You and this property are perfect for each other, and it just fell into place all of a sudden. I don't know that jealousy is the right word, but, this is multiple dreams of mine that probably won't get realized in my life, stacked into the same event: It's property you own outright, it's land out of the city, it's offgrid, it's already developed and livable but rundown and needs restoring, it has an airport, you already have an airplane and a pilot license, it's private and remote, and you have a wife that shares your dream and is along for the right. This is like the Arizona version of a sailor buying a private island. Lots of people think about it, but you actually got there.

When I was watching this, I was thinking about what I presume to be the years of nose to the grindstone and sacrifices you made working on your business, the burnouts, the stress, the choice to avoid luxury and save money instead, all of that. And how you walked into a trading post and exchanged that wagon of goods for this land. Looking around at all that it got you, it's incredibly satisfying to see a quite literal representation of what your hard work got you. This, is because of that. You used to have one thing, and now you have this new thing. And you earned it first.

You deserve this.

[ForgotAboutBrian]

In all seriousness, though, I've never been this happy for someone I've never met. Congrats guys.

[mmars]

I never could understand people building walls so thin back when it was cheap to heat/cool. Now a two-foot-thick wall to the outside is needed to reduce the energy needed to live in a space. The wind is your friend as you have more than enough power to build/repair anything you need! Love the support that you are receiving from the posts on YouTube! I am too old now to do anything like what you are doing so remember to think ahead to retirement with a body that can no longer pick up that heavy object so you can enjoy what you have been able to do!

[Caintuckee]

#1. There are "enough" rattlesnakes there, that one needs no explaining. Don't relocate, your dog may thank you later. #2. Buy a semi-auto .22 rifle and take it for frequent walks. #3. Use the grader to make a fire barrier around your home. Those are my top 3 starter tips.

[stephenreese]

Pick a room and finish it until it is done. Then pick another room and repeat!😊

[charlesurrea]

You could put a whole new spin on Airbnb.
I carry a UV flashlight for scorpions at night because they glow!
Are you considering making this a working field again, maybe a repair station?
Maybe offer different types of air tours!
A few things about rattlesnakes: There's 13 types of rattlesnakes.
They are territorial cannibals and if you found one baby there are more not far.
A 3 gallon garden sprayer + 1 gallon straight ammonia (not pine sol or cleaners), top off with water.
This will drive snakes out from everywhere.


Buying a distressed property really is the way to go these days.
Not so much for the greedy flip for profit BS, but it really is the only way that a family can afford to buy anything these days.
Sweat Equity has a bigger reward than anything else

[snekulcire]

For both YT content and you guys, the new place has plenty to keep you busy. The bomb shelter was what brought me here, but the unique combo of comedy, storytelling, and knowledge-sharing is what has me watching everything you post.

[BTCxyz]

The best looking automatic gate opener I've ever seen 💘

[hrdknox]

I lived in Arizona for a while in my early twenties. I was, in many respects, jealous of the new place. I was already thinking to myself, "Watch your ass for rattle snakes!" The bomb shelter vids were what brought me to your channel. But this looks like a really awesome adventure ahead! Can't wait to see your progress!

[dezrataz]

My wife and I almost bought property at the base of that hill at the end of the runway. As soon as I saw the thumbnail I knew exactly where it was. Congrats on the purchase (because if I knew it was for sale I probably would have got it) I can't wait to see what you do do with the place!

[rss]

Started our "dream" in 2002.. across the valley from you. straight out stockton hill rd. same thing just a long time ago. No airstrip but took us 10 years to complete. suggest trapping mice, packrats right away to prevent waking up with a Rattler in the bathroom!!!! good Need to get some Bayer Tempo for the bugs. start March and spray about every 6 weeks or so and you will be able to control the bugs and ants....Takes a while to get use to the "chores" that are needed to survive in the desert but once you get them down you won't notice them anymore until you get sick and can't do them any more... and so the adventure begins...

[bertclements]

Thanks for sharing! Also, thanks for not killing the snake. You've gotta an amazing wife! Most women would divorce you for buying that place out in the middle of nowhere.

[gregstandish]

Extreme Congratulations to you and your wife on the new purchase! I really find it interesting how you take on these fixer upper projects and use your talents and knowledge to not only repair them, but record it while entertaining and teaching us viewers. I truly hope and pray that your generosity and ability to connect with viewers rewards you financially and mentally going into the future. Thanks Herb and Wife.

[jondavidmcnabb]

You are gonna want to buy a good condition skidsteer or excavator. You will definitely want a bunch of clean IBC totes and a damn good plan. Welcome to self reliance!!!! THIS IS GONNA BE EPIC!!!

[scottfoster]

Kingman True Value is a awesome hardware store. Welcome to the wind belt lol Congratulations. Best get a tractor with a loader since the washes will flood in the winter and you will be own your own for repairs. Getting the road grader going if possible is a must start project. Next time us far more caution, That is a mature Mojave Green rattle snake they have a lethal venom, both a nero and hemo toxin in the venom.

[cvzphotography]

Beautiful view from the living room. Congrats on the purchase. Excited to follow the journey.

[factorzr]

That's a bad ass place! Looks like lots of future content that I'll be looking forward to seeing!

[warwizard]

I just subscribed. I'm in a somewhat colder place, but also off grid. 9 Miles N Willow Airport AK
61.89°N 150.11°W (Elev. 144 ft). I moved out here two years ago. I have only 12.45 acres, but have TREES! Yeah all it has is trees. Well after two years I have 36 solar panels on sun tracking mounts, 3 shipping containers (Two insulated and set up for living in) And a big hole for my large log cabin with underground basement. Lots of work. I am 68 and wish you all the best wishes. I am going to recommend a wind turbine that rotates vertically, that puts the large heavy thing on the ground and needs no rotating mount to take wind from any direction. I saw your 15 solar panels on the roof of the house. Az like Tx gets a lot of thunderstorms with lots of blowing dust, rocks, hail and the ocasional unhappy critter. That being said the winds are frequent and can be quite strong, you may get a lot of dust blowing into your house. Get yourself a magnet and check your blown in dust to see if you are getting any magnetite in your dust, it is murder on computers, I can advise on what steps to take to keep your computers working if you are getting conductive and magnetic dust getting blown in.

[phoschnizzle]

Nice! I gotta admit, trading a turd-infested bomb shelter for a derelict air ranch is definitely a step up. Plus, you got the sneaky tunnel back to the shelter if you need it. A nice place to let the Mooney run free.

[RHEC]

You should totally keep that height chart or take it off and send it to the old owners or one of their kids. I will pay for the shipping if you decide to.