Tatooine is calling
Deep in the Utah desert, a Star Wars-themed resort transports visitors to another world. Atop a dried-up lakebed in the middle of nowhere and seemingly light-years from everywhere, this southern Utah sci-fi retreat in the remote desert would not seem to hold much allure. But since its opening in a barren and sagebrush-dotted basin last March, its otherworldly vibe has turned it into a utopian getaway that has emerged as a tourist destination of choice rather than a place of last resort. Outpost X has garnered millions of views on social media platforms. It has also captured the popular imagination, luring scores of families, glampers, filmmakers, movie buffs, and solitude seekers to the site from across the country and as far away as France and Germany. “We want guests to experience nothingness, to feel like you have the opportunity to be on a different planet without being on a different planet,” said John Lawson, who manages the 240-acre property. “We want guests there to reconnect with themselves or whomever they are with, forge new relationships, and get away from their everyday life.” Outpost X is the brainchild of Travis Chambers, who conjured up the idea while working as a social media manager for 20th Century Fox and other film industry jobs, building $100,000 disposable film sets that were summarily scrapped as soon as filming was over.
“I thought it would be really cool to build a film set that people could stay in overnight,” said Chambers. “I wanted to build movies that people could immerse themselves in … and escape the city and modern life.” The sale of his ad agency for millions of dollars in September 2021 put that dream within reach. Chambers turned to crowdfunding, raising more than $900,000 from investors in exchange for stays of up to seven nights once the project was completed. For an extra $20 during their stay, guests can dress up as one of 20 prominent Namaajin denizens, including an eco-priestess, geophysicist, and mercenary. The only limit to how far guests can take their role-playing is their imagination.
The resort’s living quarters consist of three upscale, cave-like dwellings similar to Luke Skywalker’s abode in the desert world of Tattooine in “Star Wars.” It also features four smaller and less expensive futuresque zen glass domes ideal for stargazing in an area devoid of light pollution. Although the resort is built on the concept of nothingness, it is a mistake to assume there is nothing to do. Even before guests arrive at the post-apocalyptic-style property, they are sent podcasts for a front-end education on the backstory of Namaajin, a planet destroyed during a cosmic upheaval that they will be asked to resettle as part of their stay.
The fanciful art-like objects and weird structures transport you to the sets of Star Wars, Mad Max, and maybe even Planet of the Apes, if you swap the apes for snakes. The entire resort is solar-powered, so panels decorate the outbuildings and outskirts of the premises. Around mid-afternoon, you can channel the energy of a character in Dune as the daily wind picks up and coats you in a layer of dried lakebed dust. After enduring the evening gusts and cooking dinner over the fire—there are no dining options at OutpostX—my husband took a picture of my dirt-streaked face. I looked like I had lost a battle with Sarlacc, the sand-bound alien of Return of the Jedi.
Star Wars Scenarios
R2D2 had a terrible potty mouth.
“They had to bleep out every word he said!”
I saw a Star Wars action figure in a Corolla today.
It was a toy Yoda in a Toyota.
My friend got a face tattoo of his favorite Star Wars character.
You should’ve seen the Luke on his face.
To celebrate Star Wars 10 we baked some “Wookie Cookies.”
They were a little on the Chewy side.
October 1st Birthdays
1935 – Julie Andrews 1990 – Brie Larson, 1981 – Sarah Drew, 1989 – Cariba Heine
1988 – Matthew Daddario, 1970 – Zach Galifianakis, 1949 – André Rieu, 1973 – Devin Nunes