According to a May 11 news release from the company, Meow Wolf is opening two permanent exhibitions in Texas—one in Grapevine Mills and the other in Houston's Fifth Ward.
“The Meow Wolf story universe is expanding, and Texas holds the keys to our next chapters,” Meow Wolf CEO Jose Tolosa said in the release. “The opportunities this state has presented have already become the touchstones of a vibrant, arts-centric portal of imaginative creativity.”
Meow Wolf will take over the former Grapevine mall location of Bed Bath & Beyond, filling a 40,340-square-foot space, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation’s database. The location is slated to open sometime in 2023, with an exact month not known yet, said Jennifer Sinski of Giant Noise, which handles public relations for Meow Wolf.
“I think this is going to be yet another really unique entertainment destination for visitors from all over the world,” said Larry Holt, city of Grapevine director of economic development, in an interview with Community Impact Newspaper.
At its core, Meow Wolf focuses on creating immersive and interactive experiences that “transport” visitors into stories and exploration, according to its website. The company plans to "work with hundreds of artists" in Texas and from its headquarters in Santa Fe to create the new exhibits, the release stated.
The Houston location in the city’s Fifth Ward is scheduled to open in 2024, according to the release. An exact location has not been announced. The Grapevine and Houston locations will mark Meow Wolf’s fourth and fifth permanent exhibitions.
“We are very excited to be bringing Meow Wolf to the Dallas market, adding to our already compelling array of retail and entertainment offerings at Grapevine Mills," said Mark Silvestri, president of Simon Development, in the release. "The world-class creative team at Meow Wolf and their unique vision will continue to raise the customer’s experience at the center for years to come.”
Each location has a different theme and a different look. Meow Wolf opened its first permanent art exhibition in 2016 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, called “House Of Eternal Sun,” according to its website. It then opened permanent locations in Las Vegas in February 2021 and in Denver in September 2021. The Las Vegas location is called “Omega Mart,” while the Denver location is referred to as “Convergence Station.”
The arts and entertainment company plans to begin recruiting artists and staff this summer, the release states. Those interested are encouraged to follow Meow Wolf’s Instagram and Twitter accounts, and monitor its website or sign up at https://texasportals.com.
“Our city is a premier destination for entertainment, and the interactive installation these artists will build at Grapevine Mills pairs perfectly with the high-quality restaurants, wineries and family-friendly activities we have worked to place all over our fine city for decades,” Grapevine Mayor William D. Tate said in the release.
