Meow Wolf, Artist collective in Santa Fe, United States
Meow Wolf is an artist collective and entertainment company in Santa Fe that creates room-filling installations where visitors walk through surreal scenarios. The exhibitions connect painted walls, sculptures, light, and sound into coherent worlds that exist parallel to everyday reality.
A group of artists founded the collective in 2008, initially as a loose collaboration for shared projects. Writer George R.R. Martin later financed the purchase of a former bowling alley, where the first permanent installation opened.
The spaces combine art with music and performance, so visitors become part of the stories themselves. Each installation invites you to touch objects, open doors, and discover hidden details.
The exhibitions allow visitors to explore at their own pace and choose their own paths through the rooms. Those sensitive to flickering lights or loud sounds should check ahead, as some areas offer intense sensory input.
The name comes from the first meeting, when the founders drew two words from a hat. The collective now operates five locations in different cities, each with its own theme and design.
Location: Santa Fe
Inception: February 2008
Founders: Emily Montoya, Vince Kadlubek
Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access
Operator: Meow Wolf
Address: Rufina Circle
Opening Hours: Sunday-Monday 10:00-20:00; Tuesday off; Wednesday-Thursday 10:00-20:00; Friday-Saturday 10:00-22:00
Phone: +15053956369
Website: https://meowwolf.com
GPS coordinates: 35.65472,-105.99667
Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:04
Alternative attraction parks around the world challenge traditional notions of entertainment by combining unconventional themes with recreational experiences. Rather than following established formulas of rides and characters, these destinations explore diverse subjects ranging from religious teachings and historical reflection to artistic expression and cultural commentary. They emerge from specific cultural contexts, historical circumstances, or creative visions that set them apart from conventional amusement parks. Examples span multiple continents and themes. Suoi Tien in Vietnam integrates Buddhist narratives with amusement park features, while Haw Par Villa in Singapore presents Chinese mythology through elaborate sculptural tableaux. Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi celebrates automotive engineering with the world's fastest roller coaster, and Grutas Park in Lithuania preserves Soviet-era monuments as an open-air museum documenting recent history. From the satirical art installation of Banksy's temporary Dismaland in England to the adult-oriented sculptures of Loveland on Jeju Island, these destinations offer experiences that provoke thought, preserve memory, or explore subjects rarely addressed in traditional entertainment settings. Each park invites visitors to engage with its particular focus in ways that differ substantially from typical leisure destinations.
Santa Fe contains a concentrated collection of historic sites and cultural institutions that reflect the layered history of New Mexico. The city combines Spanish colonial architecture, Native American heritage, and contemporary art across its museums, galleries, and religious buildings. The New Mexico History Museum and the Palace of the Governors document over four centuries of regional history, while San Miguel Chapel and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi rank among the oldest continuously used church structures in the region. The museum landscape ranges from the Museum of International Folk Art, with its extensive collections of traditional crafts, to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum dedicated to the American modernist. The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture and the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian present the artistic traditions of Pueblo peoples and other indigenous groups of the Southwest. Canyon Road concentrates numerous galleries along a historic street, while venues like Meow Wolf Santa Fe and SITE Santa Fe focus on contemporary and experimental art forms. Outdoor recreation is available through the Santa Fe National Forest, Dale Ball Trails, and Atalaya Mountain Trail in the surrounding mountains.
San Miguel Mission
6.2 km
New Mexico State Capitol
6 km
Georgia O'Keeffe Museum
6.3 km
De Vargas Street House
6.2 km
Paolo Soleri Amphitheater
3.3 km
Lensic Theater
6.2 km
Santuario de Guadalupe
5.9 km
Santa Fe Farmers Market
5.3 km
Don Gaspar Historic District
5.7 km
Santa Fe Rail Trail
6.2 km
Santa Fe Playhouse
6.2 km
Donaciano Vigil House
5.9 km
Lamy Building
6.2 km
New Mexico Supreme Court Building
6.2 km
Santa Fe Children's Museum
5.8 km
Connor Hall
4.3 km
The Santa Fe Reptile and Bug Museum
5.8 km
Don Gaspar Bridge
6.1 km
Gustave Baumann House
6 km
Gregorio Crespin House
6.2 km
Oldest House Museum
6.3 km
Carlos Vierra House
5.8 km
Dillon Hall
4.3 km
Old Santa Fe County Courthouse
6.3 km
Cognition Enhancer
6.2 km
El Museo Cultural
5.3 km
Becoming Human
82 m
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