Game of Thrones Sets & Locations Will Become Tourist Attractions

Game of Thrones fans will soon be able to visit Westeros for themselves, as HBO plans on opening up several of the show’s filming locations as tourist attractions. The final season of Game of Thrones is expected to arrive sometime in 2019, bringing an end to the sweeping saga that has captivated TV audiences since its debut in 2011.

Everyone involved in Game of Thrones is of course remaining tight-lipped about what will happen in the show’s final season. Filming on the final six episodes has reportedly wrapped, with several of the series’ stars revealing they’ve already shot their last scenes and at least one of them has gotten a commemorative tattoo to mark the occasion. Though no one yet knows exactly who will prevail when Game of Thrones finally wraps up, it’s certain that the final season will be the most epic yet.

Though Game of Thrones itself is ending, HBO has plans to continue making money off their biggest property ever. As reported by The Wrap, the network now has designs on opening up some of the show’s Northern Ireland filming locations to tourists who wish to personally experience a little bit of Westeros. Standing sets for Winterfell, Castle Black and King's Landing are all being considered as part of the so-called “Game of Thrones Legacy Project” that HBO hopes will indeed keep the GoT legacy alive even after the series ends. The planned tour would also include a trip to Linen Mill Studios in Ireland and would be set to open in 2019. Read the official description of the project below:

Building on the success of past “Game of Thrones” live branded experiences, including the Touring Exhibition and Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience, HBO will open up the archives and share them with the series’ loyal fans. In true Game of Thrones fashion, the Game of Thrones Legacy attractions will be on a scale and scope bigger than anything the public has ever seen, offering the first opportunity for the public to set foot inside some of the most iconic locations from the series and behind the camera lens to see how the world’s biggest TV show was made. Each site will feature not only the breathtaking sets, but will also exhibit displays of costumes, props, weapons, set decorations, art files, models, and other production materials. The visitor experience will be enhanced by state-of-the-art digital content and interactive materials which will showcase some of the digital wizardry the series is known for.

Of course, HBO’s Game of Thrones plans also involve a continued TV presence, with at least one prequel series getting set to get underway. A synopsis released by the network revealed the prequel will take place “thousands of years” before the events of the current series and will chronicle the world’s “descent from the Golden Age of heroes into its darkest hour.” It’s also possible that more spinoff series could eventually arrive as HBO mines the rich history of George R.R. Martin’s fantasy universe for stories.

At least one person however is a little bemused by the fact that the original Game of Thrones is already going off the air after just eight seasons. In a recent statement, George Martin himself said he doesn't know why the show is already wrapping up, as he thinks it could go on for many more seasons. Clearly though, HBO believes the time is right to bring the current Game of Thrones story to a conclusion. But with at least one prequel series in development, not to mention the Game of Thrones Legacy Project, it’s equally clear that HBO is a long way from letting go of the brand name they have established around the world.