Kevin Costner’s movie studio is ready for business in Washington County

“The studio will be working! It’s really one of the great things Utah offers so much, and now, to have that studio available, it’s just great for filmmakers; it’s great for the people who want to enter that business living in Utah. I like the whole circle of how it can work,” Costner said. “I’m desperate to make the third movie and bring it to everyone. I’d like to get back to it this year. I’m working every day for that to happen.”

Brett Burgess, Costner’s partner in Territory Pictures, told St. George News that the 45-acre studio location will also feature a soundstage. Burgess is also president of Development Solutions Group, Inc.

Territory Studios is being built close to the Southern Parkway near Exit 7, which leads to the airport. One large building is already constructed and ready for use.

“The views out here are incredible,” Burgess said. “It’s about a mile and a half from the airport. The area we’re at now is phase one. So, as you can see behind me, we have our steel building. Part of the reason we went with steel on this was because of the speed of construction. We wanted to get something up quickly so we can continue filming Horizon in Southern Utah.”

Burgess said the production company is in discussions with four other film companies considering filming on the property. He explained that all the roads, sewer and water lines were nearby on the property, so they could connect easily to future facilities.

In phase one, the first steel building named The Barn, is currently 37,500 square feet and can be used for filming. A second structure with a concrete soundstage and offices is being built, with 20,000 square feet of soundstage space and 10,000 square feet of office space attached. When the second structure is complete, The Barn will convert to a multipurpose building for set design, construction and storage. 

Burgess stated companies can build and construct production sets and staff hope to have everything finished by the end of the year, adding that he likes the location of the property for privacy.

“It was kind of nice to be tucked down here because nobody knew where it was, but obviously, the word’s getting out, and we’re having people here,” Burgess said.

Burgess added that the film studio would be a boon to the area’s economy, which historically has been primarily dependent on tourism.

“We can see with Yellowstone, with Horizon, and all of the films Kevin has brought here, he obviously loves Utah,” Burgess said. “He’s mentioned it’s treated him very well through the years. He loves the story of the American West. So with him bringing his production here, he brings an avenue for Hollywood to come into Southern Utah. He has the connections to bring people here. He really wants to see film grow in Southern Utah.”

The Greater Zion Convention and Tourism Office stated the economic impact of the studio and filming has brought around $90 million into Washington County from Costner’s first installment of the “Horizon: An American Saga” film series. The movies cover the settlement of the American West during 15 years before and after the Civil War.

“The filming of Horizon lays the groundwork for the Greater Zion region to diversify its tourism economy,” said Joyce Kelly, sales manager for Greater Zion. “Our distinct landscape has been the setting for several film and commercial shoots over the years but nothing of the magnitude of Horizon. This is a multiyear partnership with great economic benefit to the community, but little impact to residents.”

Burgess said the experience has been an exciting challenge outside his regular world. He is a contractor by trade, so building a studio was easy. Still, there was a learning curve in building a movie sound studio.

“If anybody comes here, I think Southern Utah sells itself, but we also need to let people know that there’s a soundstage here,” Burgess said.

Historically, Southern Utah has been a place to film. Burgess said the missing link was to have a soundstage.

“I don’t think people outside the industry understand how important the soundstage is,” Burgess added. “And I know that’s what motivated him to step in and build one because we didn’t have what he needed for that big of a production.”

Burgess said residents of The Beehive State are known for being industrious, building and scaling projects, noting that partnering with Kevin Costner is “anybody’s dream.”

“It’s very surreal to be partners with him, but to talk to him, he makes you feel right at home,” he said. “If you get to know him, for me, it feels like he grew up in Southern Utah. Costner loves the American West, he loves our story. He knows more history about Utah than anybody I’ve ever met. So it feels right at home. He makes you feel very comfortable.”

Burgess said he still has to pinch himself when he thinks about working with Costner to revive the movie industry in Southern Utah, which has historically been a film hub.

“I think that’s part of the reason he loves Southern Utah,” Burgess said. “It’s very much what he loves, and he has researched and built a career on the settlement of the American West and the story of the Western expansion. That is his passion, is the development of the American West. So, for me, being a part of that is surreal. He makes you feel so comfortable in any setting that it’s like I’m talking to my neighbor.”

As far as plans past the second stage, the final phase of the project will include a Costner-themed restaurant.