Almost Nobody Knows That Parts Of The Iconic Movie Galaxy Quest Were Filmed In This Utah State Park
By Courtnie Erickson|Updated on April 18, 2024(Originally published March 30, 2023)
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Courtnie Erickson
Author
From Southern Utah to the Panhandle in Idaho, Courtnie Erickson has lived in what she believes are the best (and the most beautiful!) areas in the country. She graduated with a journalism degree from Utah State University and has more than 15 years of professional writing experience. You’ll likely see her with a Dr. Pepper in her hand and a pair of running shoes on her feet. Courtnie is a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState.
Utah is an incredible destination for filming movies. The variety of landscapes from the Bonneville Salt Flats to Monument Valley offers incredible scenery for all genres. While there are a handful of well-known movies filmed in the Beehive State, one that many people may not know about is the 1999 film “Galaxy Quest.” While watching the film, you may feel like the characters are truly on Mars but in reality, they are just in Goblin Valley State Park near Green River, Utah.
"Galaxy Quest" is a 1999 science-fiction comedy starring big names like Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, and Alan Rickman. In the movie, stars of a canceled 1970s sci-fi show are taken onto an alien spacecraft. The aliens believe the sci-fi show is actually a series of historic documentaries, rather than just entertainment.
As you watch the movie, you may notice some familiar landscapes. Portions of this film were captured in Goblin Valley State Park and once you visit, you’ll quickly understand why.
Goblin Valley State Park is home to thousands of uniquely-shaped rock formations called hoodoos. These rock formations were created millions of years ago by erosion.
In fact, Goblin Valley is home to the highest concentration of hoodoos in the entire world. This unique landscape truly makes you feel like you are on another planet — rather than in remote Utah.
In the movie “Galaxy Quest,” the characters fight off all types of space creatures during the scenes that were filmed in Goblin Valley. While you certainly won’t see those types of creatures when you visit, there are a handful of hiking trails that take you all around this small state park in Utah, and you may even see some wildlife as well — just more like snakes and rabbits.
If you visit Goblin Valley State Park today, walk around and see if any rock formations look familiar from the movie. You can also spend a few days at the Goblin Valley Campground, one of the best year-round campgrounds in Utah and the perfect base camp for a weekend of exploring.
If you are a fan of the movie “Galaxy Quest,” you’ll love an adventure at Goblin Valley State Park. It’s easy to pretend you too were captured by aliens when visiting.
Did you know that “Galaxy Quest” was filmed in this Utah state park? Are you a fan of this Tim Allen movie? Let us know in the comments! You can also learn more about Goblin Valley State Park on the Utah State Parks website. And, if you want to learn even more about its incredible campground, check out our feature article. This Utah State Park is makes for one epic road trip destination!
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