From wild fan theories to a wormhole of a website, HBO’s Westworld has become a global obsession. But while you’re busy trying to figure out the answer to “who is Arnold,” you might also wonder where Westworld is located. When it comes to on-location filming, it had to be nothing less than the American west. While we can’t guess where it’s supposed to be set in the show, we can tell you where it’s filmed — and where you can live to take your obsession to new heights.
Santa Clarita, CA
As the third largest city in Los Angeles county, you’d think that Santa Clarita was strictly urban. However, the city offers plenty of opportunity to soak up the feel of the wild west with canyons, mountains and even plenty of wildlife. This area featured scenes such as James Marsden’s Teddy and Evan Rachel Wood’s Dolores galloping for miles across the wide-open spaces in this area of California’s Ventura County. It’s close proximity to L.A. (it’s just a 20-minute drive to Universal Studios) also makes it an ideal spot for filming, including nearby movie sets. Seeing as the next season of Westworld isn’t coming out until 2018, now’s the right time to set up your own homestead in Santa Clarita.
Castle Valley and Fisher Valley, UT
One of the things Westworld is known for is their old-style, sweeping filming techniques of the great plains and rocky terrains of the the wild west. Two of their filming locations to get this feel include Fisher Valley, UT and Castle Valley, UT. Rugged and studded with gorgeous backdrops of red rocks and vast plains, you might recognize some of The Man in Black’s (Ed Harris) most iconic scenes shot here. If your trigger finger is itchy and you’re looking to ride out, look at renting apartments in nearby Grand Junction, Colorado or Provo, Utah.
Newhall, CA
California’s Newhall is no stranger to a western style of life. Home to the Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio, countless westerns and television shows have filmed here. The ranch serves as the backdrop for the town of Sweetwater, where the newcomers first step off the train into Westworld. It’s also the home and set to Maeve’s (Thandie Newton) very own saloon and brothel, The Mariposa. Though you can’t pull up to the bar and listen to The Rolling Stone’s “Paint it Black” on the player piano, you can certainly rent an apartment in Newhall which puts you in close enough proximity to visit the Melody Ranch any time you want.
Need more Westworld before the season finale? Discover access codes to the website here, or read some of the best fan theories about the finale on the web. Word of warning — they may contain spoilers.
Photo Credit: John P. Johnson / HBO
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