While in Santa Fe, I was lucky enough to be able to visit Meow Wolf's House of Eternal Return during it's opening week! A little background on Meow Wolf before the picture/sensory/word awesome overuse overload:
Meow Wolf has existed in Santa Fe since 2008 as a vehicle to promote alternative arts in the area. They have had several art installations around Santa Fe - deliberately placing them outside of the traditional Santa Fe arts district to bring in a more diverse audience.
The House of Eternal Return was funded through a Kickstarter and by George RR Martin.
According to their website: "Meow Wolf is an arts production company that creates immersive, multimedia experiences that transport audiences of all ages into fantastic realms of storytelling. Our work is a combination of jungle gym, haunted house, children’s museum, and immersive art exhibit. This unique fusion of art and entertainment gives audiences fictional worlds to explore.
The Meow Wolf Art Complex is home to Meow Wolf’s first permanent installation, House of Eternal Return. "
According to me: this is the coolest thing I've ever seen. I can't begin to describe how awesome (told ya) this place is and what a unique experience it is. There is no way my jumbled words and bad iPhone photos can do it justice, but... I will do my best.
The House of Eternal Return is housed in a converted 80s bowling alley in the industrial district of Santa Fe. There are several large sculptures that greet you in the parking lot. There are even hot pink parking lot stripes - I was in love before I entered the place.
The building houses The House of Eternal Return, but also a makers studio, and a learning center/home to their educational nonprofit Chimera. An adult ticket to The House of Eternal Return is $18 (senior $16, children $12 and discounts for New Mexico residents.)
You enter through a hallway and watch a short video before entering the front lawn of a large Victorian house.
It is the home to the Seligs, a family that has gone missing through "a break in the space-time continuum" There is evidence of the family all over that you are encouraged to look through. There were a lot of people looking at the things meticulously to solve the mystery. Every room of the home offers clues.. and portals!
This is what you find after walking through the children bedroom closet:
The refrigerator is a portal to the multiverse.
Every room has a secret passage to another insane room that I can't possibly describe. I was there for hours but I'm still not convinced I saw it all. I definitely didn't take pictures of it all.
In the main room there is a magical treehouse, bridges, and an arcade!
I especially liked the neon tree hallway.
Met a new friend.
You can play the bones!
I tried so hard to get a good picture in this room :(
ahhh
Illuminati confirmed.
Geodesic Dome!
The inside of the dome was covered in eyeballs that would light up. I stayed in here for a while haha.
This room was covered in hand painted art.
Selfies are hard.
I almost didn't find this room! There is a laser harp that you can play.
Super excited about all these secret rooms.
Believe it or not, this doesn't even scratch the surface of the interactive, awesome, visceral experience that is The House of Eternal Return. I can't wait to go back and crawl through the fireplace to find new adventures. So should you! Seriously, go. Now. And invite me to go with you.
- Emily