Where Is The 'Free Hugs Bunker' Located And What Is The Story Behind It? The Viral Meme Explained

For nearly a decade, a scary photograph of an abandoned bunker with the words "Free Hugs" and an arrow spray painted next to the entrance has been floating around online. Since then, the image has inspired dozens of memes and a few creepypastas and rumors about a supposed horrible crime that took place in that very bunker. But are the stories true? Here's what you need to know.

What Is The 'Free Hugs Bunker' Image?

In April 2014, Redditor /u/twonesix posted a photograph to the /r/pics subreddit sarcastically titled "Nothing has ever seemed more legit than this." The now famous photograph shows an abandoned bunker covered in plants with an open entryway. The words "FREE HUGS" are spray painted next to the doorway, with an arrow pointing inside as if inviting visitors to make themselves at home.

The image quickly gained viral spread across social media as people joked about just how little they'd like to get the promised free hugs from inside the bunker.

How Is The 'Free Hugs Bunker' Used In Memes?

The free hugs bunker began inspiring memes shortly after it was posted to Reddit. Some of the most popular memes are Photoshops adding a character into the entryway who you might not want a free huge from, such as Chris Hansen or Donald Trump. One of the most popular photoshops adds Pennywise the Clown to the entrance, because everyone hates clowns, apparently.

Some memes replace the text on the side of the bunker to make a new, not-so-tantalizing promise. One popular example of this is a meme that replaces "free hugs" with "dogs to pet," a promise that few dog lovers can resist.

What Is The 'Free Hugs Bunker' Story And Is It True?

Beyond memes, the image has also inspired a few stories and creepypastas. The most popular story claims that the photo is part of a police file on a mass murderer. According to the story, a group of policemen found at least seven bodies inside the bunker with their eyes, tongues and arms missing, explaining, "For this reason, the murderer used that peculiar sign, 'Free hugs,' as none of the corpses could give them."

A version of that story gained particularly viral spread recently on TikTok, inspiring many viewers to wonder if it was true. Fortunately, the story does not appear to be true. There are no known reports of a crime like this actually happening in the free hugs bunker.

Where Is The 'Free Hugs Bunker' Located?

While the story behind the free hugs bunker is likely made up, the bunker does allegedly exist. According to Redditor /u/JollyGingerGiant, the bunker is located off Highway 10, west of Durand in Arkansaw, Wisconsin. He even posted a photo of himself posing in front of the bunker as proof of its existence.

Since then, a few other videos of people visiting the bunker have been uploaded online, although there don't appear to be any photographs of the inside of the bunker. So, if you're located in or around Wisconsin and you're looking for a free hug, you know where to go.

For the full history of the Free Hugs Bunker, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.