Digging Deep: The Story Behind Casa De Gary’s Underground Humidor

Cigar Journal: Gary, how did you come up with the idea of digging out an underground cellar humidor?

Gary: Funny enough, I had only smoked three cigars in my life before this project. It all started when my grandfather passed away. While clearing out his house, I found his collection of fine cigars, some aged over 20 years. I wanted to keep them to remember him, so I bought a humidor and filled it up.

That passion grew, and I soon filled four humidors with premium cigars. As the collection grew over four years, I wanted to build a proper home for them outside the house. I've always been fascinated by bunkers, root cellars, and hidden bookshelf doors. I happened to have a mini excavator on the property for another project and thought, "Let's see how far this thing can dig into the hill." Once I dug out the space, I realized the cool, damp earth provided the natural conditions perfect for storing cigars.

(Inside Garys underground humidor)

Cigar Journal: „Your setup sounds like much more than just a place to store cigars. What is the experience of visiting your humidor like, and has it changed how often you smoke?

Gary: Yes, actually! The cellar is 8 feet wide, 12.5 feet long, and 9 feet tall, featuring eight shelves on each side. Hosting friends here has turned into a whole experience.

The cellar is located about 190 meters down the hill from my house. To get there, I drive guests down on an ATV through our goat pen with 250-pound New Zealand Kiko goats. It feels like a mini safari before you arrive at the hidden humidor. Because of this space, I’ve started smoking a bit more and enjoying cigar pairings with whiskies and spirits, though it remains largely about aging and collecting.

Cigar Journal: What were the main challenges of building an underground bunker humidor entirely on your own?

Gary: I’m not an electrician, contractor, or concrete worker, so every step was a learning process. I documented the build online, and incorporated many great ideas from viewers, which constantly expanded the scope of the project.

The physical logistics were the hardest part. I had to transport 160 bags of concrete down a steep hill entirely by myself. Because the slope was so steep, driving a loaded tractor forward risked flipping it over, so I had to drive every single heavy load in reverse down the entire hill. I ended up pulling several 17-hour workdays to complete the build within 30 working days.

Cigar Journal: How do you control temperature and humidity underground throughout the year?

Gary: My goal was to leverage natural soil conditions without expensive climate control systems. Deep underground, natural humidity stays high, and the temperature remains cool.

However, managing four distinct seasons in Northern California is tricky. During summer, the cellar stabilized at 70°F and 65% humidity. But as temperatures drop in fall and winter, humidity drops too, edging close to 60%. The thick concrete block walls and rock insulation provide great thermal mass to hold conditions, but managing seasonal shifts with tens of thousands of dollars worth of cigars inside is always a bit nerve-wracking. To safeguard the cigars, I also place individual humidity packs inside the boxes.

Cigar Journal: Do you consider the cellar a finished project?

Gary: A DIY project like this is never truly finished! Creators always see small things to fix, like redoing two stone mosaic murals I built on the exterior. Right now, I'm adding dedicated shelves for spirits and improving the seating area. The core cellar is complete and fully functional, but I'll always be adding new refinements.

Interviewer: Johannes Gnann (Cigar Journal)

Interviewee: Gary (Casa De Gary)