Know Before You Go: Denver’s Meow Wolf, Convergence Station (2024)

Editor's note:Know Before You Gois an occasional series exploring Denver metro area attractions. Next up: The National Western Stock Show

Trying new experiences can come with uncertainty for some people more than others. Whether you’re planning around children, large groups or various needs to consider, it’s nice to know what you’re getting into before you go.

Here’s a guide for planning your trip to Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station in Denver to help make your day go a little smoother, so that you can really make the most out of your time and money:

When I heard of the original opening of Meow Wolf in 2021, I was excited that Denver was finally getting a permanent interactive and immersive art installation. With any new viral experience that was all the rave in town, I had many questions. Now that the hype has died down, I thought I would check it out for you to see what it’s all about:

First things first— book your ticket online.

When planning this experience, it was helpful to know that we could book a ticket at a given time slot, which made the experience a little less overwhelming for those of us who like to have a plan beforehand and know what the “crowd situation” is going to be like.

Parking - When you show up for your timeslot at Meow Wolf, parking on-site can be a little touch-and-go considering that the lot is not big. We had to take a few laps around the parking lot to wait for someone to leave in order to find a spot. Luckily, the time slots help alleviate some of the parking stress and space out the entrance/exit of cars. It’s also important to note that if you are easily overwhelmed in tight parking lots, an alternative would be taking the bus, or parking nearby at the Auraria Campus and walking to Convergence Station from there.

Accessibility – Meow Wolf's Convergence Station Denver website states: “You’re traveling to the Convergence: four alien worlds, joined together in a rare cosmic event – a place where memories are currency.” You might be asking yourself: How accessible is this experience for everyone? It was nice to see there were multiple elevators throughout different parts of the immersive art space, which were not only easy to find throughout the space, but were pretty large, allowing accessibility for those using a wheelchair, stroller or other devices to be able to get up or down to all the levels of art easily.

In addition, much of the interactive art (telephones you pick up, buttons you push, secret rooms, etc.) are at an accessible height for wheelchair users and small children alike. I was pleasantly surprised to see tons of seating areas, too, which were cleverly placed throughout the exhibit to blend in, keeping the art in mind. It was nice to see that there was seating available almost everywhere you looked, and it wasn’t hard to find and incorporated with the art experience for seamless aesthetics.

This feature was great since the art experience suggests that to get the best experience, you try out their QPASS - an RFID card that allows you to engage with the art in a more in-depth and interactive way. The website claims “this passport can unlock the hidden memories and deeper stories of these worlds, for those who are interested.” If you use the QPASS, then your experience should take anywhere upward of two hours. Since the experience requires a lot of walking and exploring, the benches and seating space allow you to explore the entire building, with opportunities to rest between exhibits if needed.

Having places to sit and take a rest seemed essential for people to be able to really enjoy the experience since it can take anywhere from one to three hours. This experience was intentionally designed to be a little confusing so that you “get lost” while immersing yourself in the art. I found that while the space was designed to be confusing on purpose, the elevators and bathrooms are not difficult to find and are located throughout the space.

There are no maps available of the site, so it can be a bit of a roll of the dice at first. But once we were inside, we found that the space wasn’t as large and intimidating as it initially appears and that finding your way around was relatively easy. Important to note: Many of the doors and pathways are designed with curiosity in mind, meaning doors might not always look like doors. Because Convergence Station is an immersive art experience, you might be asking, “is this a good choice for someone who might get sensory overload?”

Luckily, Meow Wolf Denver offers some sensory days for people who still want to have the full experience. Although they are offered sporadically, if you call Convergence Station directly (866-636-9969), they will be able to offer you guidance on low-traffic days to visit and upcoming low-sensory events. For more information about low-sensory advice, check out this wiki threadwhich offers advice on what rooms are low-sensory in comparison to other rooms.

Overall, I feel this experience would be acceptable for people who might be sensitive to loud noises, sudden movements and false scares, such as explosions. I didn’t experience any of these intense sensations in Convergence Station. The idea behind it is to simulate a train station to “other worlds” and the concept, while sometimes a little busy, feels relatively calm. Some rooms are slightly more intense than others with sounds and lighting being more intense, but I found it easy to navigate out of what felt like “more overwhelming” rooms into the calmer areas. Each room is designed with a purpose, and it isn’t hard to find a quiet and secluded place to get away from the hustle and bustle.

Visually impaired persons can book audio tours here.

New mothers can find info on where to breastfeed/pump here.

Additional accommodations can be found here.

Sensory bags are also offered, get info here.

Information about if you are concerned about your medical devices can be found here.

Food and Drink – There is a café on site and the food was moderately priced and delicious for a small café. There was a good variety of food if you need a quick bite, but don’t expect large portions. The café offers rice bowls, tacos, and other simple Mexican-inspired snacking options as well as some quick, grab-and-go items. It also offered beverages, as well as alcoholic drinks, at a bar. Here is a deeper look at the menu.

Being a diabetic, I mustplan to bring snacks and medications with me everywhere. Convergence Station does not allow you to bring in food and drink of your own, only water. They were OK with me bringing in a few of my own items when I made them aware of my condition. If you have specific dietary needs and allergies, then the food at Convergence Station might get you by for a quick snack but isn't the greatest option. I recommend you eat before you go and plan to go somewhere after. I highly recommend this as part of your experience since the exhibit is interactive both for the mind and body. If you really spend the full two hours exploring, you will work up an appetite.

Kid Friendly – This experience is absolutely child-friendly. You might be asking “but is my toddler too small for this?” And I would say, technically, no. Although this experience might be a bit more enjoyable for kids ages 5 or older, I think anyone can find something here that they would enjoy. Each room offers different kinds of experiences and ways you can immerse yourself in the artwork by touching, exploring mechanics, and listening to the world around you. In my opinion this is ideal for children who learn about the world around them through the exploration of the senses. This art exhibit is made for kids and curious adults alike who enjoy stunning visuals and optical illusions and soothing sounds.

Tips and tricks for enjoying your time there:

• Take your time and explore each room with all your senses to get the best experience.
• Invest the extra $3 in theQPASSso you can get the full, interactive experience.
• Touch things, press buttons, open doors — you never know what surprises are going to be hiding.
• Take a break halfway through, and go back with a second wind so you can explore places you missed the first time.
• Don't be afraid to participate if someone asks you to (people might encourage you to help them on their "quests").
• Engage in, and explore, the rooms with the people around you.

Total cost including pass: (local discounts apply)

General admission: $45-$59 varies from weekdays being a bit cheaper to weekends which are a bit more expensive.

Child: $35-$55

Military: $35-$55

QPASS(optional RFID card which provides an interactive tour): $3