The immaculate, epic production design on GAME OF THRONES is one of the many reasons why the series of one the best television shows in history. From the golden glow of Kings Landing to the chilling magnificence of The Wall, each location has their own unique look and feel, and its tough call to make if you had to choose just one to visit. Now you may not have to choose at all, as HBO has announced that several of the sets will be converted into tourist attractions for fans to make pilgrimages to.
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HBO Licensing & Retail announced “Game of Thrones Legacy” attractions this morning, which will allow fans of the show to visit several of the iconic shooting locations in Northern Ireland. Among the locations that may be included are Winterfell, Castle Black and Kings Landing (pictured below), and per the press release, will feature “breathtaking sets, but will also exhibit displays of costumes, props, weapons, set decorations, art files, models, and other production materials.” An exact opening date has not been revealed, but they're aiming for sometime in 2019, coinciding with the final season of the show.
Jeff Peters, vice president of Licensing and Retail at HBO put out a statement, saying that preserving the sets is about both giving fans a once in a lifetime experience and paying tribute to Northern Ireland’s role in the history of the show.
“HBO is thrilled to celebrate the work of the Game of Thrones creative team and crew by preserving these locations and inviting fans to visit Northern Ireland and explore Westeros in person. We look forward to opening the gates and sharing the excitement of stepping inside these amazing sets with Game of Thrones fans from around the world. The opportunity to celebrate Northern Ireland’s pivotal role in the life and legacy of the show and share its culture, beauty and warmth is also a huge inspiration behind these Legacy projects.”
John McGrillen, Chief Executive of Tourism in Northern Ireland also shared his excitement, saying now people have one more reason to come check out the beauty of the country.
“We couldn’t be more excited about the Game of Thrones Legacy project coming to Northern Ireland. While fans have seen the stunning landscapes, coastlines and mountains in the series, we are thrilled they will now have the opportunity to fully experience the charm of Northern Ireland and immerse themselves into the world of Westeros. The Game of Thrones Legacy project will be a game changer for Northern Ireland on the global tourism level. We very much welcome this exciting announcement by HBO and look forward to welcoming many more visitors to our beautiful country as a result.”
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This isn't unlike what New Zeland offers to LORD OF THE RINGS fans by keeping some of the sets used on those movies around for tourists wishing to walk the paths of Hobbits and Wizards. There's even the immensely popular Wizarding World attraction that recreates the world of Harry Potter for thousands of tourists to visit every day. What I'm getting at is its an exciting time to be a fan of fantasy, and now you will have one more place to add to that bucket list and one more line of credit to take out.