Cool Stuff To Do: Meow Wolf's Omega Mart in Las Vegas
Meow Wolf has made a weirdo utopia in the desert. I went to it and let me tell you, it's everything you could possibly want in a bizarre experience.
If you’re into immersive experiences and art installations, you might already know about Meow Wolf. The company basically builds immersive and interactive art exhibits in various cities, all with some pretty over-the-top theming. Recently, while spending some time in Las Vegas, I finally got to experience one of their installations myself, Omega Mart.
If you don’t know what Omega Mart is, it’s billed as a chain grocery store that just so happens to have portals into some pretty interesting dimensions--and tons of lore to back it all up.
I can’t lie. I was most excited to explore the grocery store park of the place, as it’s full of faux grocery items, just about all of which can be purchased. From cans of Gender Fluid that you can drink to a surprising number of vegetables none of us have ever heard of before…because they aren’t real. You really can have it all. You can also venture beyond the store for some seriously wild exploring.
For me, I started by trying to get into places I didn’t think I was supposed to. I went to the employees-only areas. When it comes to experiences like this or escape rooms, my immediate quest is to find out just how extensive the immersion is. So imagine my surprise when I found what I thought was a space for employees only to discover it was a faux break room for employees of the grocery store--and a faux break room with multiple doors leading to seemingly other-world locations.
With my plan to find an actual off-limits place foiled, I decided to dive in head first and see what Omega Mart was really all about. I never kept track of where I was going, but if I saw a door that looked interesting, I went through it.
What I found once I got beyond the grocery store was a massive space, filled with lights, sounds, beautiful imagery, strangely-shaped objects, and even more to explore. It was a seriously bizarre experience that was one of the more impressive immersive installations I’ve been to. The closest I’d say I’ve some of LA’s Madcap Motel. But if you’ve been there, imagine that on a much grander and more detailed scale.








The beauty of Omega Mart is you’re not really told anything as you go in. Upon walking through the door, you’re welcomed by a greeter like you’d see at Wal-Mart. That’s all. The adventure you go on is completely decided by you. Chances are you’ll find a lot of cool stuff, but unless you dedicate numerous hours to Omega Mart, there’s no way you’ll see everything. I think that makes it perfect for locals who can visit multiple times.
Perhaps the best thing about this place, though, is you don’t have to engage in anything you’d rather not. If you want a low-key fun hang with friends, you can easily just wander for a while, not worry about figuring out the story of what’s happening, grab a couple super fun signature cocktails in the hidden speakeasy (I won’t give it fully away, but spend some time in the pharmacy), and go on with the rest of your night. After all, Omega Mart is located in Area 15 in Las Vegas, which is a huge location full of cool-looking shops, restaurants, bars, and even a video game arcade. Once you’re done with Omega Mart, your night doesn’t have to end.
However, if you find yourself wanting to get seriously lost in Omega Mart, that’s not a problem. There is tons of lore to be found throughout, explaining why this store exists, what’s powering it, and who might be responsible for it all. This can all be discovered in computer terminals, files, and more littered throughout the complex. For a few dollars, you can even upgrade your ticket to get a card that makes you an employee at Omega Mart. That card can be swiped at terminals throughout the complex, unlocking even more deep lore.
I had one of those cards and, honestly, it made for an even better interactive experience. And I learned things that, when I met some new friends in the speakeasy later in the night, I was able to explain some of the details I learned, filling in some of the holes in their knowledge. And we did that while I had an old fashioned that was sprayed into my glass out of a bottle of Windex. Because at Omega Mart, that’s how things work.
If you find yourself in Vegas and looking for something new and fun to do, it’s hard to recommend a place more than Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart. There’s so much more I want to say, but until I make a return visit to dig in even deeper--especially with a friend on the adventure--I think I should leave it there.
And if Meow Wolf’s other installations are anything like Omega Mart, I’m going to have to go on tour to see them all.
Tickets are available here. And while you’re here, don’t forget to check out my podcast, Big Kid! It’s a lot like this SubStack, but in video and audio formats.