Netflix's White Lines [1] takes you on a journey with Zoe Walker (Laura Haddock), a Mancunian who just wants to know what happened to her brother, Axel (Tom Rhys Harries), 20 years ago when he disappeared in Ibiza. After his body is discovered buried on a rich family's property [2] in Almeria, Spain, she goes there to get to the bottom of it all. Immediately upon arriving in the Spanish desert, a police officer tells her the area used to play host to spaghetti westerns back in the day but now it's a theme park. And that is a very true story.
Zoe and her husband, Mike (Barry Ward), sit down with the officer in what looks to be a saloon in the middle of what appears to be a Western-themed road in this desert. Believe it or not, there are a couple Western-themed spots in and around Tabernas, Spain. There is an actual theme park called Oasys (formerly known as Mini Hollywood) [3] in Almeria. The park employs performers to put on Westerns, there's an animal reserve with more than 200 species, a water park, restaurants, and event space.
Just a little ways up the road from Oasys is another spot that goes by both Fort Bravo and Texas Hollywood. It's a smaller location that was also used to film Westerns until it was turned into a small theme park. It also employs performers who put on Westerns and has real saloons and restaurants. Fort Bravo is still an active film set and was most likely used to film the scenes in White Lines.
As part of the only desert in Europe, Tabernas is the perfect backdrop for Westerns, with the dust kicking up and pulsing sun overhead. In Texas Hollywood, the area is split to show off both Western-style architecture as well as traditional Spanish influences. Oasys, as the more commercial park of the two, is more showy and has more activities for the whole family to join in on. Both parks are open to the public, though, and thanks to them being so close together, you can easily see them both in the same trip.
There's no word yet on whether or not White Lines will have a season two [4], but we never got all the answers on how Axel's body came to be in Almeria, so that means we may head back to the desert again in the future.
Fort Bravo in the Tabernas Desert of Almeria, Spain
Mini Hollywood in the Tabernas Desert of Almeria, Spain
Mini Hollywood in the Tabernas Desert of Almeria, Spain
Mini Hollywood in the Tabernas Desert of Almeria, Spain
Mini Hollywood in the Tabernas Desert of Almeria, Spain
