KSAR HADADA RESTORATION PROJECT

11 October 2020

In partnership with Hotel Ksar Hadada management, Galaxy Tours initiated, designed, and funded a Star Wars restoration project at Ksar Hadada from February to October 2020 to revive key Episode I Mos Espa architectural elements in the film site northwest corner. The project focused primarily on the filming area porch, staircase, main courtyard (set template), and color-match repainting.

Despite COVID pandemic restrictions, a local team executed the labor to complete the multi-phase project within 8 months: (1) removal of the archway at the top of the porch staircase; (2) removal of the wooden beams and rope railing attached to the staircase north side; (3) demolition of the vaulted-roof ghorfa lining the staircase south side; (4) replacement of the removed ghorfa with an arched doorway (leading into the site restaurant) positioned directly south of the staircase; (5) reopening of the lower-level arched doorway north of the staircase; (6) dismantling of the multi-archway wall in the main courtyard; and (7) removal (due to informational inaccuracies) of the trilingual Star Wars filming sign outside the site entrance.

Galaxy Tours CEO (Davin Anderson) formulated the project idea during a visit to Ksar Hadada with the former Hotel Ksar Hadada co-owner (Saidi Fahmi) on 13 February 2020. Fahmi recruited a local team to begin the project on 20 February 2020. The team completed all labor for the project on 11 October 2020.

Galaxy Tours is grateful to be part of this effort to enhance the Star Wars fandom experience at Ksar Hadada.