Set designer builds experience hotel for sci-fi enthusiasts in Utah

CEDAR CITY – Travis Chambers is building his dream about 45 minutes west of Cedar City. It’s what he calls a ‘micro-resort experience,’ named Outpost-X, a sort of movie set that you can stay in.

“The whole place is inspired by all of the sci-fi desert movies,” Chambers explained. “As you walk around, you’ll see influences from all sorts of movies.”

Chambers built a business designing sets for commercials, but ultimately wanted to do something more permanent.

“We’re really far out here in the middle of nowhere. And so when you come here, you kind of get transported to a different place and different time,” Chambers said.

The micro-resort has a story of its own that people can follow. There’s even a podcast with the backstory that people are encouraged to listen to while driving over. It takes place about 2,000 years into the future.

“It’s about two brothers that are rebuilding this town after it’s been destroyed,” Chambers explained. “And you’re entering this kind of village, where you’re a part of their culture and their lore, and you can drive around the property and read about all this history that was created here.”

Guests can even rent out costumes that go along with the story, and ride sand speeders that are very reminiscent of what’s seen in some of the Star Wars movies. The speeders are set pieces of their own, built around golf carts. But really, Chambers wants people to be free to live out whatever fantasy they’re interested in.

“We’ve kind of built our own little world,” Chambers said. “You can come into and kind of just get to be somebody else for a few days and get to just kind of sit with yourself and the peace and quiet and just reflect.”

Outpost-X features clear dome-shaped rooms that are designed to let guests sleep under the night sky and enjoy the micro-resort’s views that get less than 1% light pollution. There are also some cave-style rooms, with more rooms and camping on the way for the future. Guests can enjoy a very eclectic lounge, a mocktail bar, and a spa area, complete with sauna and jacuzzi.

Chambers said Outpost-X, however, is just the beginning. He’s currently working on a jungle-themed micro resort in Costa Rica, and is looking for land to build a Viking village somewhere in Idaho.

“You know, we’re in a really busy, modern world,” Chambers said. “We’ve got email, we’ve got traffic. It’s just a never-ending stimulation. And so I’m trying to build these places that are kind of like sanctuaries for people to go and just be creative and to just kind of just get out of the crazy modern world.”