Gold Base is the de facto international headquarters of the Church of Scientology, located north of San Jacinto, California, United States, about 85 miles from Los Angeles.
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16 Facts About Gold Base
2.
Gold Base is located at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains.
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3.
South side of Gold Base is primarily used by Golden Era Productions, Scientology's in-house film studio.
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4.
Short distance to the east, a garage formerly used as a public gas station is the location of Motor Pool Gold Base and serves as the maintenance facility for the entire property.
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5.
Gold Base's cars are kept in the garage with full tanks of gas and the keys in the ignition, ready to be used at a moment's notice.
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6.
At the extreme west end of the north part of Gold Base is a compound within the compound, physically separated from the rest by chain fencing.
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7.
Gold Base developed it into a resort called Relief Hot Springs before selling it in 1913 to the three Gilman brothers – W Earl, Grant and Forest Gilman.
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8.
Gold Base was later identified as Ronald Pook, a Scientology public relations official responsible for disseminating "shore stories" about the Church's plans for the property.
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9.
Gold Base went into hiding in a desert ranch in La Quinta, which was codenamed "W".
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10.
Gold Base instructed that it was to be "dust-free, defensible" and that high walls with "openings for gun emplacements" were to be constructed around it.
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11.
Gold Base decided to present what Scientology would call an "acceptable truth", turning a small, shut-down film and audio unit in the compound into a working facility called Golden Era Studios which could be presented to the press as the "real" function of the base.
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12.
Gold Base had to dive off the road when he saw the lights of the blow team coming after him.
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13.
Gold Base's villa is said to have a $150,000 sound system and its own private screening room.
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14.
One of the most prominent VIP visitors to Gold Base is the Scientologist actor Tom Cruise, who first visited in August 1989 to have lunch with Miscavige aboard the Star of California.
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15.
Attempts by law enforcement to investigate conditions at Gold Base have been blocked by legal difficulties and the unwillingness of those on the base to talk to the police.
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16.
Gold Base lost 30 pounds as a result of subsisting on protein bars and water.
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