Meow Wolf announces newest location’s opening date and story
Meow Wolf invites you to “come find yourselfs” in the themed entertainment company’s newest permanent exhibition, The Real Unreal, opening July 14, 2023, in the Grapevine Mills Mall near Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas.
At its essence, Meow Wolf is about creativity and imagination. The company’s press materials put it this way: “It’s intriguing, it’s remarkable, it’s WTF, it’s not to miss.” Sound fun? It’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to Meow Wolf’s new installation, The Real Unreal.
Photo by Jordan Mathis
Meow Wolf Grapevine is “a bold step forward”
Meow Wolf creates walk-through experiences perhaps best described as a cross between an art gallery and a theme park environment. The company’s previous exhibitions include Convergence Station in Denver, House of Eternal Return in Santa Fe, and Omega Mart in Las Vegas.
As visitors journey into The Real Unreal at Meow Wolf Grapevine, they’ll encounter over 70 experiences in over 30 rooms that feature creations from 150 artists, 38 of which are Texans. These include Dan Lam, Emmanuelle John, Mariell Guzman, Lance McGoldrick, XaLaVier Nelson Jr., Riley Holloway, and Nico Salazar.
Meow Wolf Grapevine will create over 100 jobs for the area as the Real Unreal exhibit will be accompanied by a café, store, and live event venue.
“The Real Unreal has been in the works for years and takes a bold step forward in our evolution of art and storytelling,” said Jose Tolosa, CEO of Meow Wolf. “As we pursue sustainable and thoughtful expansion, we are beyond excited to bring our unique brand of wonder unveiling this next chapter of the Meow Wolf universe, and look forward to having new participants experience Meow Wolf.”
The Story Behind The Real Unreal
Photo by Will Heron
As with any Meow Wolf destination, The Real Unreal reveals its layered narrative as guests venture further into its depths. The story, developed by author LaShawn Wanak, follows a family as they unlock portals to an alternate, psychedelic existence.
“When participants step into The Real Unreal, they start a cosmic odyssey where surprises await around every corner, and each discovery sparks its own story,” said Dale Sheehan, senior vice president and executive creative director at Meow Wolf. “Every element in the exhibition weaves together a tapestry of characters, stories, and worlds. The creative energy of The Real Unreal extends beyond the physical, and leads to a potential unlimited host of cosmic side-effects.”
A Prologue to the Main Event
A pop-up event on May 19, 2023, will tease Meow Wolf Grapevine’s summer arrival. At a rhombus-shaped cloud outside the exhibition’s future location at Grapevine Mills, guests can encounter representatives from Laernü, a “creative wellness brand” from “universes beyond our own.”
The in-character pop-up, which will feature a claw machine rewarding winners with tickets to The Real Unreal, exemplifies Meow Wolf’s signature storytelling.
Photo by Jordan Mathis
Purchase Tickets to Meow Wolf Grapevine
Guests must reserve a time slot in advance of their visit to The Real Unreal at Meow Wolf Grapevine. The exhibition will be open daily at 10 a.m. beginning July 14, 2023, and opening-day reservations are already going fast.
General admission to The Real Unreal is $50 for guests ages 13 and up, $45 for children ages 4-12, free for children age 3 and under, and $45 for members of the military and their dependents. Meow Wolf offers upgraded admission packages that include a collector ticket, lanyard, and 2023 souvenir pin.
The Real Unreal is located inside Grapevine Mills Mall in Grapevine, Tex. Purchase your tickets here.
