About
What first began in Santa Fe in 2008 as an underground art collective, Meow Wolf Santa Fe’s House of Eternal Return has become one of the top immersive experiences in the country. From the outset, Meow Wolf brought together artists from distinct backgrounds that didn’t necessarily fit into the fine arts world or whose talent needed to be experienced beyond a gallery or museum.
In 2016, Meow Wolf’s first immersive location House of Eternal Return opened its doors in Santa Fe, in a space that once held a bowling alley, and has been shaking up the art world ever since. Permanent Meow Wolf installations can now be found in Texas (Houston and Grapevine), Colorado (Denver), and Las Vegas (Omega Mart), with additional sites set for Los Angeles and New York City.
The first time you walk through a fairly ordinary looking doorway, then realize absolutely nothing inside is going to behave in any normal expected way, you’re in Meow Wolf territory. At its flagship site in Santa Fe, what starts off as a fairly straightforward wander through the 33,000 square foot space quickly becomes a choose your own adventure situation. There’s no pressure, no map, and no wrong way to experience Meow Wolf. Art, sound, and one’s own curiosity will lead you deeper and deeper into the building, through hidden passageways and tunnels and into magical rooms.
Meow Wolf in Santa Fe is an immersive art experience you walk through that combines hands-on installations with a scene straight out of science fiction, set in an old Victorian house. There’s a story you can follow if you wish, or completely ignore if you’re just in “wander and be wowed' mode. It's part art exhibition, part playful mystery and it’s definitely one you come back to as you won’t see everything on first pass.
Meow Wolf: Fun Facts & Cool Features
Meow Wolf was born out of a group of artists with talents ranging from painting, sculpting, and writing to design, music, and engineering. At the beginning, the artists would set up temporary exhibits around Santa Fe, but then saw the need to find a permanent location. With financial backing from Game of Thrones creator (and longtime Santa Fe resident) George R.R. Martin, Meow Wolf became a fixed feature on the Santa Fe art scene.
Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return is set up as a house that has been altered in some way, with portals and all sorts of odd transitions that take you into completely different environments. It’s an interactive experience by design so you’re encouraged to open things, look behind things, follow your curiosity rather than just plodding down one path.
With the addition of Fancy Town, Meow Wolf’s premier concert venue, along with the Float Cafe & Bar, the immersive experience extends from the plate to the cosmic stage. Meow Wolf Santa Fe also embraces the social aspect of immersive art with 21+ events, seasonal programming and art workshops.
Adding an immersive dive into Meow Wolf on your Santa Fe getaway is a great way to break the museum and plaza routine. In addition, the Meow Wolf experience is genuinely fun for pretty much any age or travel style.
Local Tips
- Buy tickets in advance and check day/time availability before you go.
- Give yourself a few hours to fully appreciate the Meow Wolf experience.
- Wear comfortable shoes since you’ll be on your feet and weaving through lots of rooms.
- Use the Meow Wolf App if you like extra context, story elements, and deeper exploration.
