Meow Wolf – Various Locations
Meow Wolf may be more of a sandbox of pick your own adventure than a theater, but its creators’ dedicated passion to creating fantastical spaces edges them into being the top in interactive immersion. Originally an art collective based in New Mexico and funded by Game of Thrones’ George R.R. Martin, the group has expanded its otherworldly portals to Denver, Las Vegas, and Grapevine, Texas, with Houston and Los Angeles on the way.
These attractions work because of their open exploration nature that doesn’t rely on their storylines—though there are still storylines, for immersive nerds— and really feel welcoming to anyone of any age. They have spaces that feel more Star Wars than Galactic Starcruiser did, and others that feel like you’re in your own Blade Runner film or an anime adventure that make it fun to just let loose. There’s some light acting from the guides who can play along as characters in whatever realms you find yourself in. Despite opening more locations and cultivating artists from within each community, Meow Wolf has had some leadership changes and layoffs as it has become more mainstream. Hitting the market in Los Angeles may determine its longevity in the wobbly field of immersive theater.
