Have you ever wanted to visit
Westworld? Well, now is your chance as HBO building a real life version of the wild west theme park at South by Southwest (SXSW) for guests to visit. It's not just a virtual reality experience either. This will be a full-blown version of Sweetwater built from the ground up on more than two acres of land.
While this version of Sweetwater will likely abstain from the debauchery seen so often in the show, fans will be able to interact with dozens of hosts across a variety of narratives, while hunting for clues about what's to come in season two. HBO teases that some clues will be hidden around the park, while others can only be discovered by interacting with specific hosts. There will also be wester-themed food and cocktails.
The approximately two hour SXSW
Westworld experience will be open for three days - Friday, March 9, through Sunday, March 11 - only for those who have registered. At the event, fans will head to downtown Austin's EastSide Tavern to check in and will then take a luxurious Delos Shuttle to the location just outside of the city. Additionally, guests will be assigned a black hat or a white hat before being set loose to explore the park.
For fans who aren't able to secure a reservation, HBO has partnered with Lyft for a custom Westworld-themed experience that is accessible via a secret code. Fans will be treated to a free ride to the park and uncover in-story surprises along the way.
HBO is also teaming up with Delta Air Lines to start the Westworld experience even earlier on an invitation-only flight departing Los Angeles for Austin on Friday, March 9. Guests arriving at LAX for their flight bound for Westworld will be able to interact with Delos hosts and Sweetwater locals. Once onboard, guests will be treated to Westworld-themed cocktails, don a white or black hat, and receive a personalized invitation to the Live Without Limits Weekend experience in Austin.
Lastly, there will be a Westworld panel at SXSW where fans can "get the scoop on season two directly from the show's creative talent." Series co-creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy will join cast members Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright and James Marsden for the panel at Saturday, March 10 at 3:30pm.
You can register for the Westworld SXSW experience here, but it looks like the first wave of reservations are already full. Hopefully HBO opens up more slots.