Imagine a sci-fi escape in the heart of nowhere, atop a dried-up lakebed that feels light-years away from everything. Discover Outpost X Utah resort, a sci-fi desert escape with Star Wars vibes, luxe caves, epic adventures, and unforgettable off-grid fun. Welcome to southern Utah’s hidden gem, Outpost X, nestled 50 miles west of Cedar City. Since its launch in 2023, this desert retreat has transformed from an overlooked sagebrush basin into a must-visit utopian getaway with an out-of-this-world vibe. And what better time to plan your visit than on Star Wars Day, May 4th? Celebrate the galaxy far, far away in a place that feels just as otherworldly!
Think of it as the love child of “Star Wars,” “Mad Max,” and “Dune,” with a touch of glamping magic. Outpost X has become a social media sensation, racking up millions of views on YouTube and Instagram. It’s capturing imaginations and drawing in families, glampers, filmmakers, and solitude seekers from all corners of the globe, including France and Germany. Who knew an isolated desert could be so alluring?
Seinfeld Meets Star Wars: The Outpost X Experience
Outpost X, a place as out-of-this-world as it sounds, yet it shares a quirky connection with the iconic ’90s sitcom Seinfeld, dubbed “a show about nothing.” Here’s the twist—Outpost X invites you to embrace that very nothingness. John Lawson, the mastermind managing this 240-acre wonderland, puts it simply, “We want guests to feel like they’re on another planet without leaving this one. It’s about reconnecting, forging new bonds, and escaping the daily grind.”
The spark for Outpost X ignited in the creative mind of Travis Chambers. Once a social media guru for 20th Century Fox, he dreamed of building film sets you could actually live in. “Imagine sleeping in a movie,” Chambers muses from his new base in Boise, Idaho. “I wanted people to step into a cinematic escape from city chaos.”
A dream turned possible when Chambers sold his ad agency for a cool million-plus in September 2021. Inspired by travels with his family to offbeat adventure hotels in 30 countries, he snapped up the land for Outpost X for just $110,000.
To turn this dream into reality, Chambers dived into crowdfunding, raking in over $900,000 in exchange for future stays at the resort. Despite construction hurdles post-COVID, he teamed up with contractors and bootstrapped the project to life.
Since breaking ground in 2022, Outpost X Utah Resort has been a hit, boasting 90% occupancy. This otherworldly retreat houses up to 35 guests in luxe, cave-like abodes reminiscent of Luke Skywalker’s digs on Tattooine, complete with four futuristic glass domes perfect for stargazing under the pristine night sky. Welcome to the ultimate escape, where Seinfeld’s “nothing” meets Star Wars magic!
Welcome to the Apocalypse Resort: A Playful Adventure Awaits
Think nothingness means boredom? Think again! Before even setting foot on our quirky post-apocalyptic paradise, you’ll dive into the backstory of Namaajin—a planet wrecked by cosmic chaos—through exclusive podcasts. Get ready to become part of the story as you help resettle this fictional world during your stay.
Once you arrive, the adventure kicks off with a zoom around the resort in electric “Star Wars”-style landspeeders (aka jazzed-up golf carts). Explore 20 interactive stations that unravel the planet’s wild past and its colorful cast of characters.
Rates start from $320 to $475 a night, but if you’re feeling grand, snag the entire property for just $5,000 a night. Want to get into character? For an extra $20, transform into one of 20 Namaajin locals—from an eco-priestess to a daring mercenary. Your imagination is the only limit!
A Playground for the Imagination
Fuel your creativity at the Kaan Lounge, where avant-garde meets chill vibes. Kick back on plush couches, catch a flick, or download yoga and kickboxing apps. Feeling musical? Jam out with guitars, sound bowls, and drums.
Outside, unleash your inner adventurer! Try your hand at atlatl throwing, wield foam lightsabers, or climb boulders. Nearby, a two-story fun zone awaits: downstairs, piece together puzzles and tackle board games in a spaceship cockpit-inspired PlayStation arcade.
Head upstairs to the Mocktail Cantina for exotic non-alcoholic concoctions—recipes and ingredients included! Prefer a tipple? Bring your own booze. Just outside, the skydeck offers sweeping views of… well, not much, except distant mountains and barren fields.
Relaxation with a Dash of the Unexpected
Wrap up your day around cozy fire pits, swapping stories or trying your hand at pottery on a nearby clay wheel. Air dry your creations and let your imagination run wild at this whimsical retreat.
Just a stone’s throw away, a spa oasis awaits with its sauna, mud baths, clay wash pits, a cold plunge pool, and hot tubs—one even boasts a waterfall!
The cold plunge pool is a favorite of Lawson’s, evoking warm memories of a time when a coyote casually sipped from it while a couple, just a few feet away, snapped pictures of the unexpected visitor. They were clearly having a wild time!
Meanwhile, Chambers can’t get enough of the experimental aircraft from Area 51, flying overhead from the top-secret base hidden 125 miles away in the Nevada desert. Who knew relaxation came with such a show?
The Stairway to Heaven
Just a short trek across the playa, you’ll stumble upon the quirky Stairway to Heaven, where some folks meditate while others send drones skyward for epic aerial shots. But that’s not the only oddity you’ll find at Outpost X—there’s also a fully made bed plopped right in the middle of an empty field near the cave rentals.
Originally meant for removal because it clashed with the resort’s vibe, the bed has become a surprise hit. “Guests really love the bed,” says Lawson. “We’ve caught people napping, jumping, and snapping photos on it, so we let it stay. The tricky part is keeping up with sheet changes and chasing down windblown pillows.”
Outpost X Utah Resort: Comfort, Community, and Cosmic Vibes
Outpost X is no ordinary escape. The caves and zen domes come decked out with modern comforts—think big-screen TVs, climate control, and kitchenettes with showers. Guests can whip up their own meals or opt for exotic-sounding packages crafted by celebrity chef Cody Candelario, perfect for cooking in-room or over a communal fire pit.
This offbeat blend of solitude, gathering, and play drew Las Vegas locals Dennis and Lizzie Haro. “We were itching for a quick off-grid getaway,” Lizzie shares while chilling at the Kaan Lounge. “We’re suckers for unique stays and once crashed at a spaceship near Joshua Tree. The ‘Star Wars’ vibe here won us over, so we brought the kids.”
A Star Wars Sanctuary and Creative Playground
Outpost X Utah Resort has charmed plenty of others, too. “We’ve hosted Star Wars fan groups like The 501st Legion, one of the biggest out there,” Chambers notes. The site has attracted National Geographic and Vogue photographers, and Utah videographer Devin Graham—aka DevinSuperTramp—recently filmed a project here for the Star Wars Outlaws game by Ubisoft and Lucasfilm Games. And mark your calendars—a massive Star Wars-themed wedding is on the horizon for next spring.
To truly dive into the Outpost X experience, visitors are encouraged to leave their expectations at the door and embrace the unknown.
“This isn’t just a hotel,” Chambers quips. “It’s an experience.”
And this experience is catching on. Riding the wave of Outpost X’s success, Chambers is on a mission to expand. He’s busy crafting an adventure resort in the lush jungles of Puerto Rico and is on the hunt for land in the Rocky Mountains to bring a Viking village to life.
“We’ve shown this immersive, experimental concept works,” he shares. “My aim? To roll out around 20 of these projects in the next decade.”
Photos by Rick Egan for The Salt Lake Tribune