Western Leone, Almeria
Western Leone:
A Filming Hub & Level 1 Foundation for El Paso Verse
A Striking Western Landscape with Cinematic Legacy
Located in the Tabernas Desert of Almería, Spain, Western Leone offers a visually stunning yet underdeveloped frontier that could serve as both a filming hub and the Level 1 foundation for El Paso Verse. Originally built for Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time in the West, the site has a rich cinematic history but requires significant upgrades to function as a sustainable production and immersive experience location.
Western Leone’s dramatic desert setting, surrounded by rocky outcrops and vast arid plains, closely resembles the American frontier, making it an ideal backdrop for Western storytelling. However, it lacks essential infrastructure such as electricity, running water, and accommodations, meaning filming and operations would initially rely on generators and mobile facilities.
Potential Connection to Fort Bravo Texas Hollywood
Western Leone is situated in the Tabernas Desert, a region historically used for Western film productions. Notably, it lies a two-hour horseback ride from Fort Bravo Texas Hollywood, another Western-themed town with established filming infrastructure and tourist operations.
If both locations were acquired, it would create a larger, more immersive frontier experience, allowing for:
- Multi-location storytelling, enhancing the depth of El Paso Verse.
- Potentially a seamless connection between two Western settlements, expanding filming and visitor engagement opportunities.
- Greater versatility for productions, with varied terrain between the two towns.
However, the land between Western Leone and Fort Bravo is owned by multiple private landowners, making it difficult to control the story narrative and ensure seamless utilization of the space between the two. Any activities outside the acquired land would be subject to negotiation and potential restrictions, limiting free movement and full environmental control.
Existing Assets and Required Development
Western Leone features a small collection of period-style buildings, including:
- A saloon
- A bank office
- A sheriff’s office
- A telegraph office
- A funeral parlour
- The McBain house from Once Upon a Time in the West
While these structures provide a starting point, the town layout needs redesigning, and many buildings require renovation or reconstruction to meet the needs of both filming and an immersive guest experience.
Key developments needed:
- Electricity and water infrastructure for sustained filming operations.
- Crew accommodations to support production and visitors.
- Catering and commissary facilities requiring full renovation.
- Production support buildings for storage and logistics.
With these improvements, Western Leone could transition from a basic film set to a functional Old West settlement.
A Practical Filming Hub with Expansion Potential
Despite its limitations, Western Leone offers an immediate and visually authentic Western setting. Its location in the Tabernas Desert, Europe’s only true desert, provides:
- Cinematic, sun-scorched landscapes perfect for Old West storytelling.
- A year-round dry climate, ensuring consistent filming conditions.
- Minimal modern interference, preserving an immersive historical atmosphere.
As a filming hub, Western Leone can host initial production phases and premiere events while foundational infrastructure is built, allowing for a phased expansion into a fully realized El Paso Verse level 1 visitor experience.
RECOMMENDATION:
A Strong Candidate for Level 1 Development
Western Leone is not a turnkey solution, but it provides a historic foundation and a visually compelling landscape for El Paso Verse. While significant upgrades are needed, its existing Western architecture, cinematic history, and desert setting make it a strong choice for launching the project’s first phase.
If expansion to Fort Bravo Texas Hollywood were feasible, it could further enhance the scope of El Paso Verse. However, the challenges of coordinating activities across separately owned land must be considered when planning for long-term scalability and immersive control over the narrative.
Real estate listing info: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/29/once-upon-a-time-in-tabernas-spanish-spaghetti-western-set-for-sale
WHY COULD BE A LEGO SET
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Thank you for reading my presentation and I hope I have written everything necessary, because 8000 characters are very few, in case I am here waiting for your questions.
Many greetings from
Pino
