Guy Who Bulldozed a Town: A Story of Destruction

The guy who bulldozed a town is a story that's hard to believe. He was a wealthy businessman named Ed Fletcher, who owned a significant amount of land in the town of La Jolla, California.

Fletcher's plan was to build a luxurious resort on his land, but he didn't want to deal with the hassle of going through the usual zoning and permitting processes. He decided to take matters into his own hands and bulldoze the entire town.

The town of La Jolla was a small, charming community with a rich history. It was home to many families and businesses, and its residents were fiercely proud of their town.

On June 4, 2004, Marvin Heemeyer embarked on a devastating rampage in Granby, Colorado.

He used a retrofitted Komatsu D355A bulldozer, which he had made nearly indestructible with armor-piercing ammunition and explosives.

Heemeyer bolted himself shut inside the bulldozer and greased it up to prevent others from climbing on top.

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He smashed through the building that housed the bulldozer and made his way to the cement plant near his former business, which was his first target.

The owner of the cement plant, Cody Docheff, tried to stop the destruction with one of his construction vehicles, but it was no match for the bulldozer.

Heemeyer rammed the rear of Docheff's vehicle, and Docheff was forced to make a hasty escape.

During the rampage, Heemeyer destroyed a local bank, his former business, hardware store, town hall, police department building, home of Granby's deceased former mayor, town's library, local newspaper office, former judge's home, and an enormous amount of cars.

He even tried to ignite the Independent Propane Company's storage tanks with his .50 cal rifle, but fortunately, they didn't explode or catch fire.

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Granby, CO, was a small town in Colorado that was bulldozed by a notorious individual. It was a thriving community with a rich history dating back to the 1800s.

The town's economy was primarily driven by the railroad, which brought in new residents and businesses. The railroad also brought in the infamous individual who would eventually destroy the town.

Granby was a popular tourist destination due to its natural hot springs and scenic beauty. The town's residents took pride in their community and worked hard to preserve its history and charm.

The bulldozer's actions were devastating to the town's residents, who lost their homes, businesses, and way of life. The destruction was swift and merciless, leaving nothing but rubble and memories behind.

The incident in Granby, CO, serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power and greed.

The bulldozing of the town was a drastic measure, with little consideration for the consequences. The town was left in shambles, with many buildings reduced to rubble.

The town's residents were left with nowhere to go, and many were forced to relocate to nearby cities. The town's economy was severely impacted, with many businesses forced to close.

The bulldozing of the town also had a significant environmental impact, with the destruction of habitats and ecosystems.

Marvin Heemeyer's planning and construction phase was a period of intense preparation and modification of his bulldozer. He purchased the Komatsu D355A bulldozer in July 2002 for $16,000, which is equivalent to $27,104 in 2023.

He kept the bulldozer outside his business with a "For Sale" sign, but it failed to sell. He then saw it as a sign from God that he had to start his mission. He sold his property to a waste disposal company in October 2003 for $400,000, which is equivalent to $677,595 in 2023.

Heemeyer took out a lease for half the building he previously owned and worked on the bulldozer, illegally constructing living quarters to avoid returning to his home in Grand Lake. He dumped his sewage into the same irrigation ditch he had been caught dumping into several months earlier.

The bulldozer was modified with makeshift composite armor plating covering the cabin, engine, and parts of the tracks. It was also fitted with several video cameras linked to two monitors mounted on the vehicle's dashboard, protected by 3-inch shields of clear bulletproof lexan.

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In popular culture, there are a few notable examples that reference the story of Heemeyer's rampage. The 2014 Russian film Leviathan was inspired by his story.

One notable documentary film based on the rampage is Tread, released in 2019.