Beryl • What do a Broadway singing star, a mixed martial arts fighter, and secret-keeping Mormon wives have in common?
Unlikely as it may seem, they all shone in an otherworldly 240-acre retreat for lovers of sci-fi adventure and solitude that Idaho businessman Travis Chambers carved out of the isolated Utah desert, 50 miles west of Cedar City.
Welcome to Outpost X, which opened last March and The Salt Lake Tribune featured earlier this month.
Stellar visitors
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Damien Haro drives a cart designed to look like a landspeeder at OutpostX near Beryl on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.
As new as it is, this Star Wars-style complex has already attracted a number of exceptional visitors. Kristin Chenoweth, an acclaimed singer and Tony Award-winning actress, stayed there, according to Chambers. It was the same for Jorge Masvidala former professional fighter who won a symbolic Ultimate Fighting championship “BMF” Championship belt in 2019, Chambers said.
When the producers of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” called to explore the possibility of filming an episode of the hit Hulu series there, however, Chambers was hesitant.
“I told them, ‘Look, I don’t think this is our brand,’” he recalls.
So, what is Outpost X’s brand or niche in the hospitality industry? A former social media manager for 20th Century Fox, Chambers said it was about converting films like “Star Wars,” “Dune” and “Max Max” from reel to real.
“The Hollywood film industry is dying and epic films are becoming less common due to streaming (services),” Chambers said. “I basically build films that people can immerse themselves in in real life. It's not a hotel. It's an experience.
Guests' imaginations are the limit when it comes to experiences or adventures at Outpost on an outdoor clay wheel and dress up as a fictional character from the planet. Namaajin by disguising yourself as a smuggler, mercenary or eco-priestess.
Zen-loving guests can warm up in the resort's sauna or hot tubs, relax in the cold plunge pools or clay pools, and climb the Stairway to Heaven to perch on a platform to meditate or observe the stars. They can also hole up in their rooms – high-end caves and glass domes packed with modern amenities – for some solitude and to decompress.
As befits a singing star like Chenoweth, the Outpost X experience cannot be had for a song. Nightly rates range from $320 to $475. Renting the entire resort will cost visitors $5,000 per night. As chic as the rooms are, they're not too expensive for the many families, movie buffs and solitude seekers who flock to the site from as far away as France and Germany.
According to station managers on the websiteOutpost X is “a post-apocalyptic sanctuary where the world ended and we started again.” Our goal is to revive the imagination, reconnect with your inner child, relearn how to play, far from the BS of society.
To this end, the resort employs a minimal staff – so as not to detract from the property's secluded, otherworldly vibe. Lest anyone consider indulging their inner geek too much to appeal to the masses, Chambers notes that Outpost X often sells out two or three months in advance.
Luxury in Utah defined differently
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) A glass dome, one of two types of accommodation at Outpost X near Beryl on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.
As eccentric as it may sound, Outpost X is clearly part of the mainstream of a post-pandemic global wave of adventure travel. According to a 2024 report on the state of the adventure travel industryoperators of these resorts have seen a 384% increase in the number of travelers served since 2021.
Although Utah doesn't skimp on conventional luxury hotels and amenities, state tourism officials say it shines when it comes to outdoor grandeur and recreational opportunities. With its five national parks, 46 state parks, unparalleled ski slopes and unparalleled red rock cliffs and canyons, they add, Utah is becoming a paradise for travelers looking for luxury and adventure.
“Just luxury takes on a different meaning in Utah,” said Anna Loughridge, public relations manager for the Utah Office of Tourism. “Luxury in Utah is seeing the Milky Way for the first time, experiencing maximum solitude, or feeling the desert sand between your toes. Our adventure resorts make these experiences much more accessible.
Click here to learn more about Outpost X and its exceptional qualities that attract movie fans, filmmakers and other visitors from across the country and around the world.
