I visited Meow Wolf in Grapevine in early November for a close friend’s birthday party. Upon entering the Meow Wolf lobby, guests are stamped on their hands with invisible ink. While waiting in the lobby, guests can order food, use the restroom, and purchase additional Meow Wolf merchandise. Our session was scheduled for 2:00 PM, and once it was time, we were quickly escorted into the primary exhibit hall. The first of many immersive aspects my friends and I noticed was that the previously invisible stamps had become a bioluminescent shade of yellow. With little to no wait, we had casually stepped into a new world of whimsical and joyous experiences. Similar to exploring the set of a movie, we were transported to the world of Meow Wolf, except all the CGI and practical effects used in movies were now right in front of us. While entering Meow Wolf, you are immediately set in front of a large family home—walking through the outdoor garden and house patio decorated with string lights and a starry night sky. Visually, it was very apparent Meow Wolf was trying to uphold a particular aesthetic, following themes of surrealism and coziness. However, unlike my initial interpretation, Meow Wolf is not solely a visual experience.
After being founded in New Mexico, Meow Wolf’s popularity resulted in five permanent locations nationwide: New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado, and Texas. Interestingly, none of the locations include the same displays, making every visit feel fresh and unique. More specifically, in Grapevine, TX, Meow Wolf can be located in the Grapevine Mills Mall alongside other adventurous attractions such as The Escape Game, Sea Life Aquarium, and Legoland Discovery. The tourist attraction became an immediate hotspot, engaging visitors with its interactive elements, nostalgic experience, and ultimate demonstration of local artistry.
While not only serving as an installation for local artists’ pieces, Meow Wolf engages audiences with its interactive elements. From the start time you arrive to your session until you leave, there are so many discoveries to be made while exploring the attraction: Laundry machines revealing secret tunnels, closet doors leading to tree houses, and a refrigerator that life in the clouds would feel like. As I ventured through the Meow Wolf lens, I quickly realized how physical of an experience it was. Aside from the main exhibit hall, each room required some interactive comment in order to access it. Whether finding a secret elevator in the dining room or crawling through a laundry machine, guests are sure to get their steps in. However, that’s not all Meow Wolf has to offer. After finding a new location, rooms will have individual parts with which guests can interact. My favorite was a synthesized piano, illuminating the room in several colors when the correct chord was played. There are many more secrets for guests, such as the piano, but avid participation is necessary to find most of them. When exploring the bedrooms, look for hidden notes and photographs from the unusual family living there!
As stated previously, one remarkable feature of Meow Wolf is that local artists create all of its exhibits. Specifically, the one in Grapevine utilizes pieces from local artists in the DFW region. Initially, I referred to Meow Wolf as a museum as a placeholder, but it quite literally is an interactive museum. This special feature leaves for much appreciation when admiring the exhibits.
As I walked through the attractions of Meow Wolf, I found parts of my childhood mirrored within the walls. I cannot speak for other audience members; however, I felt a sense of nostalgia while visiting Meow Wolf. The total ambiance radiated from the exhibits alluded childhood memories. When stepping into Meow Wolf, I was taken away from the worries of present day society, and embraced the wonder of the museum. There were several factors as to why guest may experience this feeling: the musical underscore, scenic design, and color pallet. Each exhibit was underscored by a lofi/synth musical composition. The music was not necessarily melodramatic or uptempo, but felt rather free spirited. This alongside the scenic design of the exhibit only further pushed the theme of nostalgia. Each room was carefully designed to look truly psychedelic—they resembled parts of the real world, but if an alien invasion had occurred. Lastly, and my favorite, was their color choices in each exhibit. While entering Meow Wolf, the exterior was painted with warm and and darker shades of colors: various greens, golden yellows, and browns. However, upon entering the house, and stepping into the world of Meow Wolf, everything was designed with a retro neon color. Teals, hot pinks, oranges, and many more neon colors contributed to the childlike fantasy that guests experience.
Although there was no problem with the museum itself, one major limitation was the overpopulated venue. The popularity of Meow Wolf caused for many guest to be touring at the same time, and after entering, you can stay for as long as you like. Although individually this seems like some sort of benefit, this also meant that there were essentially no regulations on when a person had to exit the facility. They stamped each customer to allow them inside, but other than that, you could stay until closing. I didn’t see the purpose of scheduling sessions if, during those allotted times, another guest would also be occupying the space. The overpopulation also created additional issues. Many of the interactive elements, such as the piano and story letters, were unavailable and were being used by another guest. When trying to take photos with friends or listen to the retro wave music, other customers would tend to interrupt my personal experience. I would like to clarify that besides the issues presented by the other guest, I don’t have any issues with the Meow Wolf experience itself.
Overall, Meow Wolf presents an immersive and fun experience for all audiences. Its interactive elements, displays of local artistry, and ultimate sense of nostalgia make Meow Wolf the unique experience it is.
