Drive east of Colorado Springs for about twenty minutes. You’ll hit Ellicott. It’s flat, dusty, and looks exactly like the kind of place where someone might build a private military empire. That’s where you’ll find Mel Bernstein. Most people just call him the Colorado Springs Dragon Man.
He’s a trip.
Honestly, if you saw him at a grocery store, you might just see a guy in a biker vest. But Mel is likely the most armed man in the United States. We aren't talking about a few handguns and a hunting rifle under the bed. We are talking about over 4,000 weapons, functional tanks, and a literal flamethrower attached to a motorcycle. It’s a 65-acre compound that functions as a museum, a shooting range, and a testament to one man’s absolute obsession with military history.
What is Dragon Land?
People travel from all over the world to see the "Dragon Land" museum. It isn't some corporate, sanitized experience like you’d find in D.C. or at a state-run memorial. It’s gritty. It’s packed. The walls are covered from floor to ceiling with memorabilia from every major conflict—WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Korea. Mel has spent over 40 years collecting this stuff.
He doesn't just collect. He breathes this history.
One room is dedicated to the Third Reich. It’s controversial, obviously. But Mel, who is Jewish, views it as a necessary preservation of history so people don't forget the horrors. He’s got the uniforms, the medals, the flags. Then you walk into the Vietnam room and it’s a completely different vibe. It’s overwhelming. The sheer volume of steel in that place is enough to make your head spin. You’ve got to see the rows of submachine guns and the anti-aircraft guns sitting out in the yard to really get the scale of it.
The Man Behind the Dragon
Mel Bernstein didn't just wake up one day and decide to become the Colorado Springs Dragon Man. He started as a guy in New York, working on motorcycles. He was a "gearhead" in the purest sense. The nickname "Dragon Man" actually came from a motorcycle he built back in the 70s—a beast with a dragon head that breathed actual fire.
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He moved to Colorado in 1982. Why? Because there’s space. You can’t exactly park a fleet of tanks in a Brooklyn garage.
He’s a character, but there’s a lot of pain behind the persona. In 2012, Mel lost his wife, Terry Flanell, in a tragic accident on the property. They were filming a segment for a Discovery Channel show when two smoke bombs went off, hitting her. It was a freak occurrence. A lot of people thought Mel would shut down the whole operation after that. He didn't. He kept going, partially because the museum was their shared life’s work. He’s often said that being surrounded by the museum and the work is what keeps him sane.
The Firearms and the Technicalities
If you’re into the technical side of things, this place is basically a religious experience. Mel has a Class 03 Federal Firearms License (FFL). That’s the big one. It allows him to deal in NFA (National Firearms Act) items.
We are talking:
- Fully automatic machine guns (properly registered and legal).
- Functional grenade launchers.
- Operational tanks (yes, they drive).
- Landmines (inert for display, usually).
The inventory is worth millions. Easily. He’s got some pieces that are one-of-a-kind. He has several "Mule" vehicles from the Vietnam era and even a Russian T-54 tank. You can’t just buy these things on eBay. It takes a lifetime of networking with veterans, other collectors, and government auctions.
Some folks get nervous when they hear about one guy having this much firepower. It’s understandable. But Mel is highly regulated. The ATF knows exactly where he is. He’s a businessman. He runs a paintball course, a dirt bike track, and a world-class shooting range. It’s a lifestyle brand built on gunpowder and history.
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Why Does He Have a Nazi Room?
This is the question that comes up most often when people discuss the Colorado Springs Dragon Man. It’s the most polarizing part of the museum. Mel is very blunt about it. He tells visitors that history isn't always nice. If you remove the artifacts of the "bad guys," you lose the context of what the "good guys" were fighting against.
He has a massive collection of mannequin soldiers dressed in authentic uniforms. The "War Room" is set up chronologically. You see the progression of technology—how helmets changed, how gas masks evolved. It’s an educational tool, albeit a very visceral one. You aren't reading about a Luger in a textbook; you’re looking at one that was actually carried in 1942.
The Reality of Visiting Dragon Land
If you decide to go, don't expect a guided tour from a guy in a suit. You’re going to get Mel. Or you’re going to get one of his staff members who live and breathe this stuff.
The place is located at 1200 Dragonman Drive.
It’s dusty. It smells like oil and old canvas.
The museum tour usually takes about two hours if you’re actually paying attention. Mel usually gives the tours himself on Sundays. He’s got stories for every single item. He knows which veteran donated which jacket. He knows which gun jammed during a specific battle. That’s the "human-quality" element that a standard museum lacks—the oral history attached to the physical objects.
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Is It Safe?
Honestly, it’s a shooting range. There are rules. They are strict. If you act like an idiot, they’ll kick you out faster than you can blink. The safety protocols for the museum are standard, but because of the sheer amount of ordnance, they don't let people just wander around touching everything.
The Legacy of the Dragon
Mel is getting older. He’s in his late 70s now. The question of what happens to the Colorado Springs Dragon Man collection is a big one in the military history community. You can’t just hand this off to a nephew who doesn't have the right licenses.
This is one of the largest private collections of military memorabilia in the world. If it were ever auctioned off, it would likely flood the market and change the valuation of WWII and Vietnam-era collectibles overnight. But for now, it stays in Ellicott.
Mel keeps adding to it. He keeps fixing the tanks. He keeps the "Dragon Man" legend alive because, at the end of the day, he’s a preservationist. He’s a guy who loves the engineering of war and the stories of the people who fought.
How to Experience the Dragon Man Legacy
If you're planning a trip to Colorado, skipping the typical tourist traps for a day in Ellicott is worth it if you have even a passing interest in history or mechanics. Here is how to handle a visit like a pro:
- Check the Schedule: Mel usually does the big museum tours on Sundays at 10:00 AM. Don't just show up on a Tuesday and expect the full experience. The shooting range has different hours than the museum.
- Bring Cash: While they take cards for some things, having cash makes life easier in rural Colorado.
- Respect the Rules: This isn't a playground. It’s a high-intensity environment with live fire nearby.
- Ask Questions: Mel loves to talk. If you ask about a specific engine or a specific rifle, you’ll likely get a 10-minute masterclass on why that piece of equipment changed the course of a battle.
- Look for the Details: Don't just look at the big tanks. Look at the letters home from soldiers. Look at the small personal items in the display cases. That’s where the real history is.
The Colorado Springs Dragon Man is a reminder that America still has these larger-than-life characters. He’s a walking contradiction—a Jewish man with a Nazi collection, a biker with a museum, a peaceful guy surrounded by weapons of war. He is a one-man preservation society. Whether you love guns or hate them, the sheer dedication to historical preservation at Dragon Land is something you have to respect. It is a massive, metallic piece of the American puzzle sitting right in the middle of the Colorado plains.
To get the most out of a visit, plan to arrive thirty minutes early for the Sunday tour, as the crowds have grown significantly over the last few years due to Mel's increased social media presence. Wear closed-toe shoes; you're walking through a working shop and a dusty outdoor compound. If you're a veteran, mention it—Mel has a deep respect for those who served, and it often opens up even deeper layers of conversation during the tour. Finally, take the time to visit the memorial on-site for Terry; it provides a sobering perspective on the risks and the passion that built this place.