Meow Wolf opens at Grapevine Mills, first Texas location
By Scott Nishimura
Meow Wolf, creator and operator of big interactive art spaces, has opened its fourth U.S. location — at Grapevine Mills.
“The Real Unreal” is the theme of the location’s permanent exhibit, and it takes visitors through an “inspiring tale of creativity (and) community … within a mesmerizing, interactive artscape,” Meow Wolf says.
The Grapevine exhibit features the work of 38 Texas artists and “dozens of Meow Wolf artists,” Meow Wolf says.
Meow Wolf started in 2008 as a small collective of artists in Santa Fe, New Mexico, who shared an interest in publicly displaying their work and developing their skills jointly.
“This collective approach of painters, architects, sculptors, performers, writers and more led to Meow Wolf’s distinctive style of immersive environments that are maximalist in nature and allow for audience-driven experiences,” the company says.
Meow Wolf has locations in Santa Fe, Denver, and Las Vegas and plans to open one next year in Houston. Each location has its own permanent exhibition.
Meow Wolf made the top 50 on Fast Company’s lists of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in 2020 and 2022. In June, it was announced that the company had become accredited as a Certified Autism Center by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards.
“Many autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals may find it challenging to visit new places or plan family trips due to a lack of staff training and understanding the potential for sensory overload or the need for flexible options of accommodations,” Meow Wolf says. “Meow Wolf believes that art and creativity should be accessible to all.”
Tickets start at $45 per person at meowwolf.com. Meow Wolf is open seven days a week. The exhibition invites visitors of all ages.
The concept for the exhibit was conceived by sci-fi and fantasy author LaShawn Wahak.
The story begins in a house and centers on a mother and son, their “chosen” family and the “extraordinary events that open their house to a realm of expansive creativity,” Meow Wolf says. “Certain spaces may feel familiar to Meow Wolf devotees, as some settings harken back to the original Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, creating cross-exhibition connections and bringing a new dimension to the Meow Wolf story universe.”
“The house and the idea of ‘eternal return’ are powerful motifs that formed the catalyst for Meow Wolf’s transformation from a scrappy art collective into the growing company we are today,” says Emily Montoya, Meow Wolf co-founder.
Serving It Up: Meow Wolf’s All-Texas Food and Beverage Vendors
- All Y’alls Foods, Cross Roads, plant-based proteins
- Blended Family Foods, Fort Worth, salsa
and sauces - Buzzed Bull Creamery, Grapevine, premium ice cream
- Celestial Beerworks, Dallas, craft beer
- Celzo, Austin, aguas frescas
- Del Campo Empanadas, Fort Worth
- GNS Foods, Arlington, nuts
- Hive Bakery, Flower Mound, cakes and desserts
- HTeaO, Grapevine, tea
- JudyPie, Grapevine, sweet and savory pies
- JuiceLand, Austin, juices
- Mac & Cream Bakeshop, McKinney, French macarons and bakery items
- MELT Ice Creams, Fort Worth
- Nikki’s Popcorn Co., Dallas, popcorn
- Noble Coyote Coffee Roasters, Dallas, coffee
- Peaberry Coffee, Dallas, coffee
- Purpose Tea, Dallas, coffee and tea