Presidents, billionaires, and movie stars belong to this exclusive, secretive club

Can you keep a secret?

There are many groups, either known, secret, or somewhere in between, that draw the attention of the uninitiated. However, one group stands above any real or fictional secret society in strangeness and fascination.

A summer camp like no other

Every summer, some of the most powerful men on Earth gather at Bohemian Grove, an exclusive camp known for its secrecy and mysterious rituals. Presidents, millionaires, all gather at the same retreat.

A real who's who of America's 1%

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, some known members include Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger, Clint Eastwood, Walter Cronkite, Jack London, and even Mark Twain.

Exclusive and secret

However, BBC News reports that the list of the Bohemian Grove's some 2,500 members is currently a secret, which only fuels the mystery around the camp.

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It will take a while (and a lot of money)

Not everyone can become a member, though. GQ Magazine reveals that there’s an annual membership fee of 25,000 US dollars and a waiting list of over 3,000 men. It can take over a decade to get a response.

Anything but bohemians

GQ points out that it is a stark contrast to the club’s origins in 1872, which was a meeting place for writers, artists, and performers (in other words, bohemians). Nowadays, Bohemian Grove members are a good size of America’s 1%.

Located north of San Francisco

The BBC writes that Bohemian Grove is maintained by The Bohemian Club and consists of a 2,700-acre wooded retreat north of San Francisco where members have been gathering for over 150 years.

Pictured: Visitors at Muir Woods, near where Bohemian Grove is located.

The Cremation of Care

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the club is known for its cultish rituals. Every summer, members perform a ritual known as 'The Cremation of Care' in front of an owl statue, it is described as a traditional musical drama.

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A good time for networking like any other

Although business talk is forbidden at Bohemian Grove, the BBC remarks that the summer retreat has been the perfect place for some of America’s most important men to network, amid performances and rituals.

Image: aaronburden / Unsplash

Mysterious woods

Unsurprisingly, this has led to decades of conspiracy theories and speculation about exactly what happens in the woods of Bohemian Grove.

Uninvited guest

Encyclopedia Britannica writes that in 2000, far-right radio host and online conspiracy theorist Alex Jones secretly filmed the Cremation of Care ritual.

Friends in high places

More recently, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was revealed by the website ProPublica to have been visiting Bohemian Grove for decades as a guest.