With a 95 percent 'audience score' on Rotten Tomatoes and a nine-star rating on IMDB, it's looking like 'Dune: Part Two' is living up to the hype, likely to be one of the highest-rated blockbusters of the year.
Set on an otherworldly planet that's covered in a desert landscape sprinkled with a valuable substance known as 'spice,' the plot line follows the protagonist's attempt to avenge the destruction of his family as he works to prevent a terrible future he's foreseen. It's action-packed and visually stunning and a movie most are sure to love.
In the midst of the Dune craze, those in Colorado may want to seek out a few 'Dune'-themed destinations found around the Centennial State.
Here's our list of 'otherworldly' Colorado spots:
1. The Great Sand Dunes
The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Photo Credit: SeanXu (iStock).
Obviously Great Sand Dunes is on this list. It's one of the most notable 'sand dune' destinations in the world. Granted, this sand dune destination is surrounded by mountain peaks, which doesn't really give it the same 'lost in the dunes' vibe that's ever-so-present in the Dune movies. Either way, there are plenty of lower spots at this sand dune destination where visitors can really get that 'surrounded by sand' feel. Visit between late-May and mid-June to check out Medano Creek for a particularly unique experience.
2. The 'Other Sand Dunes'
North Sand Hills Recreation Area. Photo Credit: Euphoric Adventure Photography Co. For more, please visit http://www.jasonkaplan.photography
While the 'Great Sand Dunes' tend to get all of the 'sand dune' love in Colorado, there's another sandy spot to visit that's located near Walden – North Sand Hills Recreation Management Area. This spot spans about 300 acres and is different than the Great Sand Dunes in that it allows for off-road vehicle travel. That's right – I'm talking dune buggies. As was noted in a Denver7 report, this spot "brings out the 'Mad Max' in drivers."
3. The TANK
Photo courtesy of The TANK Center for Sonic Arts.
One aspect of the Dune movies that gets a lot of talk are the sounds featured in the film. Often looming and ominous, these sounds add to the intensity of the movies and are impossible to ignore. If you're looking for an 'otherworldly' sound experience in Colorado, head to Rangely and plan a trip to an event at 'The Tank,' officially known as the Center for Sonic Arts. This rusty 65-foot cylinder was built for water storage, but later turned into a one-of-a-kind venue offers shows that won't soon be forgotten.
4. The Paint Mines
Crowds of visitors walk on the trails that wind through the colorful rock formations at the Paint Mines Interpretive Park near Calhan on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)
Honestly, the Paint Mines are a bit more colorful than the 'Dune' landscape, but its otherworldly nature lands it on this list. Spanning about 760 acres, colorful rocks and gullies can be explored at this location found east of I-25. If you visit, do not climb on rock formations and make sure to leave no trace.
5. Mesa Verde National Park
The Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde National Park. Photo Credit: tudorish (iStock).
As anyone who has seen Dune knows, the Fremen are the locals who inhabit the planet, living in a series of desert communities called 'sietches' that help to protect them from the harsh realities of the planet they call home, playing a bigger role in 'Part II' compared to 'Part I.' Colorado doesn't have a group of people leaving under the earth's crust, but housing built into cliff sides can be explored in the Centennial State. The best place to see these structures is Mesa Verde National Park, built by Ancestral Puebloans who inhabited the area between 500 AD and 1300 AD. This spot has also been designated as an 'international dark sky site,' which means those camping here are sure to see plenty of stars provided it's a clear night.
6. The Space Foundation Discovery Center
View interactive exhibits and space exploration artifacts at The Space Foundation Discovery Center. Photo Courtesy: VisitCOS.com
The Space Foundation Discovery Center in Colorado Springs makes the cut for this list because it's all about space, which plays a huge role in Dune. This attraction is currently closed for renovations, but it's set to reopen in the spring of 2024 with a remodel, renovation, and expansion. It'll be bigger and better than ever.
7. Rangely Off-Road Park
Shawn Morgan scales boulders at the Rangely Rock Crawling Park in Rangely, Colo., on July 7, 2021. Rock Crawling uses specialized vehicles to climb boulders and overcome the challenge of natural occurring rock obstacles. The Rangely Rock Crawling Park spans 560 acres and is the only one designated to the extreme off-roading sport in Colorado, according to the Bureau of Land Management. (Chancey Bush/ The Gazette)
While Dune is most notably known for its Sand Dunes, there are also plenty of rock areas on the planet, as well. Those looking to navigate difficult stretches of Colorado's rocky terrain should visit the Rangely Rock Crawling Park for an extreme off-roading experience.
What's another 'Dune-themed' destination that should be added to this list? Let us know in the comments.
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