Welcome To Outpost X, Lightsabers Optional

In retrospect, I should have known getting a lightsaber through airport security would be the biggest challenge getting from Maine to Outpost X. 

By comparison, everything else related to my trip to the 200 acres of scrub and dried lakebed in the Utah desert that is the sci-fi-fantasy-glamping experience Outpost X went quite smoothly. Including the three-hour drive from Las Vegas, one of the closest airports. 

Once there, the entrance is pretty hard to miss. Just take a left at the two derelict helicopters at the gate.

Outpost X: Dystopian, Trippy

Those relics were the perfect visual introduction to what promised to be several days of immersive play and relaxation at Outpost X, a wildly dystopian and trippy destination. 

It’s billed as an off-grid “Sci-fi glamping experience,” where guests can “experience nothingness, slow down and reconnect [or] when you’re ready to be social, there’s an immersive village to explore with new friends and experiences.” 

The site was founded and designed by Travis Chambers of Boise-based Chambers Media. “Having visited places like Tulum, the Sahara Desert and the Middle East, I have always been struck by the distinct atmosphere and unique sense of place that these locations offer,” Chambers said in an interview with online architectural magazine Designboom. “This inspired me to create a space that deviates from cookie-cutter principles often seen in U.S. architecture. Outpost X is a testament to that inspiration, offering a lodging experience that transports guests to a new and exciting world.”

I was ready for all of that and more, along with two friends who joined me. Three women and one tiny dog, all of a certain age, ready to not act our ages for several days in the desert. I should note here that Outpost X is very dog friendly. 

Cave Glamping

For our stay, we booked one of the five above-ground cave structures. Each is unique, but all are designed to look as if they grew out of the arid high-desert terrain. The walls inside look like they are carved out of solid rock with windows, shelves, and even sitting areas cut into the stone. 

Our cave had two bedrooms, a foldout couch, a fully stocked kitchen, and a spa-like bathroom. There was even a comfy doggie bed and fluffy blankets for my dog Chiclet. The vibes may have been prehistoric-apocalyptic, but the actual feel was quite luxurious.

Ceiling-to-floor windows faced out onto the dried lake bed and distant snow-capped mountains beyond. A domed skylight dead center in the living area let in sunlight and provided views of the star-filled desert night sky.

The entire property is best described as a mash-up of Star Wars, Mad Max, and Dune, with the best bits of each there to enjoy.

This Is All Perfectly Legal

I must point out, however, that this is very much not a theme park. For one thing, even though the entire place reflects some of the best science fiction produced, the owners have ever-so-carefully created a world that runs up to, but stops at the copyright or license infringement line.

For example, the popular battery-powered vehicles available to guests are called “sand cruisers,” not “land speeders,” a la Lucasfilm. There is a public gathering space with indoor and outdoor seating. This Kantina is not to be confused with Chalmun’s Spaceport Cantina in the Mos Eisley district.

But none of that means you can’t go full on cosplay with your favorite character from your favorite sci-fi or fantasy movie or book. 

Along with our light sabers, my friends and I had created our own costumes using clothes and accessories we either already owned or found in thrift shops. Then, it was off to play.

Playtime

There are no organized activities at Outpost X, but there is more than enough provided to create your own fun. 

And boy did we ever.

We spent hours racing around the lakebed in the sand cruisers, exploring while brandishing our light sabers. We fought epic hand-to-hand battles on the three ground-level trampolines. 

The random items scattered around the desert – a player piano, the stairway to nowhere, a giant swing, a queen-size bed, and a hammock — were examined and tested out.

We were three grown women and one tiny senior dog, suddenly decades younger, with no cares in the world. Other than who actually won the epic sand cruiser race. Those results remain in dispute, but I’m pretty sure mine did cross the finish line first.

And a Delightfully Strange Staff Too

In case we needed help or directions on anything from operating the sand cruisers to hauling our luggage from the car, the Outpost X staff – all of whom looked like they had wandered in after time traveling from a 1960s commune – were ready to help. They were so nice and it really felt more like we were hanging out at their own homes and not checking in at a glamping destination. 

Speaking of check-in, it was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in all my travels. There is no central office or manager’s space at Outpost X. Instead, the staff on hand were waiting for us, welcomed us by name, and simply pointed to our cave. No identification or credit cards asked for. It was delightfully laid back and chill. 

Since we arrived hours early (that’s what happens when you take a redeye into Vegas, land at midnight, and immediately start driving to Outpost X), our cave was not quite ready for us.

No problem, everything else at Outpost X was open for us to use and enjoy the second we arrived, no extra charge.

We broke our own land speed records running to the garage – deliberately designed to look like a galactic junkyard – to each claim a cruiser and zoom off in three different directions, Chiclet happily riding shotgun with me like a furry Grogu – the Yodalike child from the popular television series The Mandalorian. 

Hot and Cold

When we got tired of running and driving around, we decamped to the jetted hot tub – which also looks like it was carved out of solid rock –  to soak, relax, and arrange various science fiction mini-figures in mock battles under tiny waterfalls.

Never one to pass up a soaking opportunity, I spent a fair amount of time in one of several cold-plunge pools. These looked like large, castiron cauldrons and the water was not Arctic polar plunge cold, but it was bracing. Once I was acclimatized to it. I sat back and just enjoyed the desert landscape stretched out in front of me.

All of this, plus the sauna, small pottery studio, and large meditation lounge are included with a booking at Outpost X. For an additional fee you have access to a limited number of costume elements and prepared ready-to-cook meals.

I’m Hungry… And Thirsty

There is no restaurant on the property and the nearest grocery store is 35 miles away in the small town of Beryl, Utah. That means preordering one of the Outpost X meal prep options or bringing your own food is a must. There is also no alcohol for sale on site, so it’s strictly BYOB. Given that it’s in a part of the country where not a lot of people consume alcohol, it’s advisable to stock up before you leave a more cosmopolitan area.

The Outpost X Kantina does have soft drinks, juice, and water for sale in addition to instructions on how to combine any or all of those into cosmic mocktails. The implication, of course, is that the addition of any alcohol will give it that big bang kick.

In our case, one of our  friends had driven from her home several hundred miles away, so she was kind enough to bring food and drink. My other friend and I had flown in from Maine so we stopped to get snacks and other goodies along the drive from Vegas.

I talked to someone there who had gone for the meal prep option and she said it was really good. The menu included steak, salmon, or chicken, and sides including sweet potatoes, quinoa, greens, and bread. A breakfast with eggs, avocado, and bread is also available. All the ingredients for the meals are placed by staff in the refrigerators in individual accommodations before arrival.

More Ways to Stay and Play

In addition to the caves, there are five clear geodesic domes with an attached opaque living area. Each of these “Zen domes” has a double bed in the middle of the dome (with curtains for privacy or a break from stargazing), a full kitchen, a sitting area, and a spa bathroom.

For guests looking for more of a desert-nomad experience, there are circular Viking tents. Each has a double bed, electrical outlets, and, of course, desert views.

Finally, there are tenting and RV areas. These and the Viking tents come with access to the shared restroom/showers and kitchen area in the Kantina where each has its own assigned refrigerator.

It gets both quite cold and hot in the desert. Each accommodation has plenty of blankets and heaters, and the domes and caves have air conditioning–proof that when in an apocalyptic setting, one needs not sacrifice comfort.

Or, more importantly, based on the antics of my friends and I, to act one’s age.

If You Go

Getting there: The two closest major airports are Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. Both are a three-and-a-half-hour drive away. Take time to enjoy that drive, as it runs through red-rock canyons and gorgeous deserts.

Connectivity: Staff encourages severing ties with the outside world during the stay. But if you must check in with friends and family, the WiFi is great, and there are televisions if, for some reason, the desert environment is not entertaining enough.

Power: Outpost X is off-the-grid and powered by both sun and propane. The power cuts off briefly every night for 5 to 10 minutes as it switches from solar power to propane. Guests are asked to conserve energy use, but not to the point of discomfort.

The setting: We were there in October. During the day, it was a comfortable 70-plus degrees. But the constant sun and thin air of the high desert mean sunscreen and careful attention to hydration are key. During the night, it dropped below freezing. Pack clothing that layers and sturdy footwear.

For information or to book: https://outpost-x.com/ or 435.633.1233 (text only).

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