CRUISE CONTROL
Incredible drone footage reveals Church of Scientology’s bizarre and secretive 500-acre HQ – complete with full-sized theatre just for Tom Cruise
Amazing aerial video reveals the sprawling 'Gold Base' compound's deepest secrets
THIS is the breathtaking aerial footage that uncovers the scale of Scientology's massive 'Gold Base' headquarters.
The secretive church's 500-acre enclosed campus in California serves as its international management centre, known as ";Int Base" to seasoned Scientologists.
And among its sprawling mass of constructions sits the offices of reclusive leader David Miscavige -- as well as a full-sized THEATRE set aside for the church's most famous follower Tom Cruise.
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Miscavige is housed in what is shadily known as Building 50 -- surrounded by what a former devotee who worked at the base has revealed is scores of trees worth $10,000 each.
Tom de Vocht, who recently defected from the Church, cast his eye over the amazing footage uploaded to Scientology research site to reveal the base's secrets.
He said that Miscavige's nearly $100 million mansion has an enormous garage set aside for his fleet of vehicles.
It has also been revealed that the massive site has its own power plant to ensure that it is off the national grid.
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Meanwhile, the footage shows a large development of new apartments, which de Vocht said are known as "the Berthing".
He alleges they have been built to "lock up" dissident members of the Church.
It was learning this that made deVocht quit Scientology. He told the Bunker: "F*** that, I'm not locking anyone up".
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And near these apartments is a gym that deVocht said is exclusively for the use of Miscavige and his famous friend Tom Cruise.
There is even a Scottish-themed residence named Bonnie View which was on the site when the church's founder L. Ron Hubbard bought the land.
However, the previously modest building has been torn down and built into a sprawling mansion -- which deVocht says is shoddily constructed and would come down in an earthquake.
And to the top of the residence is a number of visitor suites which deVocht says are often set aside for Tom Cruise and contain a theatre just for his use.
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What is Scientology?
According to the church's official literature: “Scientology is a religion that offers a precise path leading to a complete and certain understanding of one’s true spiritual nature and one’s relationship to self, family, groups, Mankind, all life forms, the material universe, the spiritual universe and the Supreme Being.”
It claims to have roots in the beliefs of “all great religions”, therefore encompassing “a religious heritage as old and as varied as Man himself”.
It says it is around 50,000 years old - but it was actually invented in the 1950s by sci-fi writer L. Ron Hubbard.
There is a huge lake set within a nine-hole golf course which deVoctht alleges people were made to jump into as punishment.
There is even a prison known as "the Hole" where up to 80 people can be locked up at one time.
The drone also captures the huge "CineCastle" -- home to propaganda centre Golden Era Productions.
And finally, the flyover video shows the Star of California -- a building beside a swimming pool that is supposed to resemble a sailing ship.
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