An Upstate SC Doomsday Castle

Screen Shot 2020-08-19 at 4.40.27 PM

The Doomsday Castle | Screenshot from National Geographic

We don’t know about y’all, but we feel like this entire year has had very “end of the world” and “doomsday” vibes. If we were approaching doomsday, there’s one South Carolina spot that would be prepared.

#DYK there’s a Doomsday Castle in the Upstate? Near Pickens, SC, in the woods, sits a medieval-looking fortress built by Brenton Bruns. He built the castle for his family so they could – as you probably guessed – be prepared for a doomsday level catastrophe.

Brenton has been filling the castle with thousands of dollars of survival supplies over the last 15 years. The fortress has enough food to last years, plus running water and electricity, generators, weapons, and everything else you’d need to be able to shelter there safely for a while. You can take a look inside the castle here.

Screen Shot 2020-08-19 at 4.40.27 PM

The Doomsday Castle | Screenshot from National Geographic

In 2013, National Geographic had a reality television series about Brenton and his family, appropriately titled “Doomsday Castle.” You can click here to check out a snippet from the show + you can watch full episodes on Prime Video.

Does any of this sound familiar? Perhaps – the Doomsday Castle made local headlines earlier this year when two people were sentenced in January for breaking into the castle and stealing thousands of dollars worth of equipment back in 2018.

If we do have any doomsday level catastrophes in our near future, we’ve got our fingers crossed that Brenton will have the space to add a few extra beds to the castle.

More from GVLtoday
You can just load your TBR (to be read) list, but these challenges and pop-up shops keep it interesting.
The Music in the Woods stage was damaged by Helene in fall 2024, and now the park and its supporters are working to rebuild.
Get your calendars out and start booking your reservations at these Greenville-area eateries offering special dishes, menus, and deals for a limited time during Restaurant Week South Carolina.
Whether you’re plunging into icy water, holding a plank on a Megaformer, or basking in red light, wellness in 2026 is about finding what makes you feel good. With so many options popping up around Greenville, we’re sharing where to try these wellness trends.
Let’s take a look at some stats on the history of snow in Greenville
We saw 2025 design trends come to life at the Hispanic Alliance’s 2025 Homes for the Holiday event.
A new 6,800-sqft indoor golf facility with advanced training technology, six simulator bays, and on-site refreshments is opening soon at Greenville’s Judson Mill District.
The Urban Forest Comprehensive Plan will inventory Greenville’s canopy, shape future tree policy, and invite public input starting in 2026.
We’re looking at the request for proposal to bring in an architect for the project, plus other city halls with features that caught our eye.