09 May 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TEXAS TAKES THE GLOBAL STAGE AS MEOW WOLF GRAPEVINE AND HOUSTON EARN TOP AWARDS AT IAAPA HONORS 2025
GRAPEVINE, TX (May 2, 2025) —This week, Meow Wolf's Texas-based exhibitions have achieved international acclaim at IAAPA Honors 2025, one of the most prestigious award programs in the global attractions industry. Announced this week at Europa-Park in Rust, Germany, Meow Wolf Grapevine was named 2025's Top Location-Based Experience (LBE) in the world, while Meow Wolf Houston received global recognition for Best Food & Beverage Building Renovation or New Build for its signature dining experience, Cowboix Hevvven.
Held for the first time in Europe in conjunction with Europa-Park's 50th anniversary, IAAPA Honors 2025 gathered industry leaders from more than 100 countries to recognize creativity, innovation, and excellence across theme parks, museums, and immersive experiences. Meow Wolf was one of only a handful of U.S.-based companies to receive recognition.
The Top LBE of the Year award—one of the evening's most coveted honors—spotlights Meow Wolf Grapevine's achievement in redefining what an immersive art experience can be. Located in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, The Real Unreal exhibition has quickly become a cultural anchor in the region, blending interactive storytelling, bold visual design, and community collaboration in ways rarely seen in traditional attractions.
“To see a Texan experience like Meow Wolf Grapevine celebrated on an international stage is incredibly meaningful,” said Meow Wolf Grapevine General Manager Jamie Weaver-Garia. “This award is a tribute to the artists, staff, and guests who have shaped our Meow Wolf locations into something truly extraordinary. We're honored to represent the innovation coming out of North Texas.”
Meow Wolf Houston, which opened its doors in October 2024, was also honored for Cowboix Hevvven, the exhibition's otherworldly bar and grill that fuses psychedelic visuals in a western dive world. Designed by a collective of Texan artists and featuring a menu curated to reflect Houston's culinary creativity, the venue has quickly become a standout in the city's food and beverage scene.
“Cowboix Hevvven pushes the boundaries of what food and beverage can be in an immersive space,” said General Manager of Meow Wolf Houston Aaron Johnson. “This award reflects the talent and imagination of Houston's artists and chefs who helped create a dining experience that's as inventive as the exhibition itself.”
This dual recognition solidifies Meow Wolf's reputation as a leader in immersive arts and entertainment—not just nationally, but globally. With both Texas locations less than two years old, the honors signal a powerful emergence of creative excellence from the Lone Star State. The accolades come on the heels of last week's Webby Award wins, further affirming Meow Wolf's expanding influence on the global and digital stage.
A full list of the IAAPA Honors 2025 winners is available at IAAPA.org. Guests can explore the internationally recognized The Real Unreal at Meow Wolf Grapevine and Radio Tave at Meow Wolf Houston with tickets available now at meowwolf.com. To stay updated on upcoming events, artist features, and behind-the-scenes content, follow Meow Wolf on all social platforms.
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ABOUT MEOW WOLF
Meow Wolf is much more than your typical arts and entertainment company; they're the creators of extraordinary, mind-bending experiences that transport millions of adventurers of all ages into breathtaking realms of imagination and wonder. As the proud recipients of numerous accolades, including Time Out's #1 Immersive Experience in the US (2023), Fast Company's World's 50 Most Innovative Companies (2024, 2022 and 2020), and USA Today's Top 10 Best Immersive Art Experiences (2022), Meow Wolf is committed to engaging curious seekers through the magic of discovery and play. They are distinct in their collaboration with hundreds of visionary artists who infuse creativity into every Meow Wolf experience. The journey began with the THEA Award-winning House Of Eternal Return in Santa Fe (2016), a mystery house with hidden passages and mesmerizing art exhibits. In Las Vegas, Omega Mart (2021) presented a surreal grocery store experience. Denver's Convergence Station (2021) appeared as a maximalist architectural marvel linking four alien worlds. Meow Wolf unveiled Webby Award-winning The Real Unreal (2023) in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Meow Wolf's fifth and newest location Radio Tave, a community radio station that spans dimensions, opened on Halloween of 2024 in Houston. Meow Wolf's next exhibition opens in Los Angeles in 2026 followed by its seventh location in New York City. As a certified B-Corporation, Meow Wolf leads in themed entertainment, innovating and celebrating human imagination. All are invited to join a journey that defies convention, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy.
ABOUT IAAPA:
IAAPA is a diverse and dynamic community of global attractions professionals. As the largest international trade association for permanently located attractions, IAAPA unifies the attractions community, connects people to learn and grow together, and strives to promote the highest professional standards for excellence and safety around the world.Founded in 1918, IAAPA represents leading industry attractions and supplier companies, consultants, and individual members from more than 100 countries. Members include professionals from amusement parks, theme parks, attractions, water parks, resorts, family entertainment centers, zoos, aquariums, science centers, museums, cruise lines, manufacturers, and suppliers.The association's global headquarters and North America office are in Orlando, Florida, U.S. IAAPA also maintains offices in Brussels, Belgium; Hong Kong, China; Shanghai, China; and Mexico City, Mexico.
Press Contact
Connor Gray
Regional PR Manager
Meow Wolf Houston
806-570-2128
