Las Vegas may have a diverse range of weird, wonderful and whacky attractions to cater for all tastes, but one of the most mind-bendingly unique is undoubtedly Omega Mart at Area15.
As you step through the doors of this surreal psychedelic supermarket, prepare to be transported to another world where nothing is quite what it seems – and, without giving away too much, here’s our guide to what to expect.
What is Area15?
A relatively new addition to Vegas’ myriad attractions, Area15 has been described as an experiential retail and entertainment complex.
Located about a mile to the west of the Las Vegas Strip and housed in a 200,000-square-foot hangar-style building, it boasts a range of unique entertainment installations, art displays, bars and a restaurant.
One of the main attractions is Omega Mart, which takes up a large section to the west of the Spine, as the main hall is known. The other feature installation is Lost Spirits, an immersive working distillery and surreal amusement park for adults.
Other installations include Illuminarium, an interactive cinematic projection feature, and Virtualis VR, a state-of-the-art free-roam virtual reality experience.
You’ll also find a craft beer hall and gaming arcade known as Emporium, an indoor zipline, an ax throwing attraction, a psychedelic bar named Oddwood featuring a 23-foot-tall digital maple tree – and much more besides.
When it opened, Area15’s creators knew they would have to come up with something different to compete with all the other entertainment draws in Vegas.
To this end, Area15 requires prospective tenants to offer unique elements to qualify for retail space – and as a result, you can expect to find features and experiences there quite unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.
Note that entry to Area15 is free – but many of the attractions inside charge an admission fee.
What is Omega Mart?
Omega Mart is the creation of Santa Fe-based art collective Meow Wolf, and it is one of Area15’s flagship attractions.
Since there’s little else like it anywhere else in the world, Omega mart defies descriptions and labels. However, it can be thought of as part art exhibition, part escape room and part scavenger hunt – and it’s a place that has plenty of surprises waiting for you as you explore.
As you pass through the entrance, at first glance, it seems like a regular – if slightly quirky – supermarket. But as you begin to take in the details, you quickly realize that not everything is as it seems.
You’ll begin to notice strange products on the shelves such as “dehydrated water” and “nut-free salted peanuts”. Everything is designed to be touched and interacted with, and most of the products are for sale if you want to take something home as a souvenir.
However, there’s more to it than just this.
When you enter the store, you’re given an employee “boop card”, which can be scanned at various places in the attraction.
Doing so will reveal another layer to the experience, allowing you to unravel the mystery of Omega Mart and Dramcorp, the opaque and shadowy company behind it.
As you work your way around, you’ll uncover secret passages leading to other worlds, and you’ll slowly begin to understand what’s going on as you find the clues and unravel the complex interactive story.
What Can You Expect to See There?
As an art exhibition, you can expect to see a whole range of surreal exhibits such as the bizarre products in the supermarket, mind-bending moving artworks and other-worldly psychedelic lighting.
Inside the attraction, as you travel between different worlds, you’ll also discover strange immersive landscapes and trippy visual effects. You’ll have chance to ride on giant slides, and if you get thirsty, there’s even a bar where you can pause to digest everything you’ve seen.
How Long Does It Take to Visit?
Unlike many of the attractions at Area15, there’s no time limit to your visit. When you buy a ticket, you choose your time slot, but once you’re inside, you can take as long as you like to experience everything Omega Mart has to offer.
There are two ways to visit. Some people choose to simply wander around the attraction, taking in all the unique art and incredible creativity of the place, and just visiting this way will still give you an enjoyable and memorable experience.
However, if you want to immerse yourself completely in the Omega Mart world and follow the storyline, search for all the clues and solve the mystery of Dramcorp, your visit will take longer.
In general, most people spend around one to two hours inside, although you could easily spend three or more hours there if you choose to follow the storyline and try to discover everything there is to see.
Who or What Is Meow Wolf?
Meow Wolf began as a collective of artists from the Santa Fe area whose mission was to “inspire creativity through art, exploration and play so that imagination will transform the world”.
Although the initiative started with only a handful of local artists, the group has since grown to include over a hundred specialists working in disciplines such as painting, sculpting, graphic design, technology, writing, light design, music and more.
The collective has previously created similar immersive and interactive attractions.
Their first permanent installation was the House of Eternal Return in Santa Fe, which, like Omega Mart, is an interactive art project where visitors follow the immersive storyline that takes them into another dimension as they work their way around the exhibit.
However, the mind-bending Omega Mart installation is arguably the group’s most ambitious project and its greatest success, and since opening in 2021, it has already welcomed over one million visitors.
When is it open?
Omega Mart is open every day from 10am to midnight.
Note that after 10pm, Area15 is over 21s only, so if you want to visit with children, you need to leave yourself plenty of time to finish everything before then.
How Much Does It Cost?
At the time of writing, the prices are as follows:
Mon-Thu
- General Admission: $49
- Child Admission (ages 4-13): $45
- Senior Admission (ages 65+): $45
- Military Admission: $45
Fri-Sun
- General Admission: $59
- Child Admission (ages 4-13): $50
- Senior Admission (ages 65+): $50
- Military Admission: $50
Reductions are also available for Nevada residents.
Note that prices can change, so for the most up-to-date info, you can check the official Omega Mart ticket sales site.
Where Is It and How Can You Get There?
Omega Mart is located in Area15 about a mile to the west of the main Las Vegas Strip on Rancho Drive. Since parking is limited there, the best way to reach it is by Uber or Lyft – there’s a dedicated drop-off area where your car can leave you.
Alternatively, if you don’t mind a short walk, you can also reach Area15 from the Strip on foot.
- Address: 3215 S Rancho Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89102
- Phone: 702-846-1900
Tips for Visiting Omega Mart
Here are a few suggestions for making the most of your time at Omega Mart.
Try Not to Find out Too Much About It Before You Go
A large part of the fun at Omega Mart is uncovering the details and coming across a whole range of surprises, so for the maximum impact, it’s best to know as little as possible about t before you go.
For this reason, we’ve left our descriptions as ambiguous as possible because we don’t want to give away too much and spoil it for you!
Book in Advance Online
Tickets are sold online, and it’s highly recommended to buy tickets in advance, especially if you want to visit during peak times.
When buying a ticket, you choose an admission time – but once inside, you can explore the world of Omega Mart for as long as you like.
Go Early if You Visit with Kids
Omega Mart is a kid-friendly attraction, but bear in mind that Area15 is over-21s only after 10pm. This means if you want to visit with kids, give yourself plenty of time to finish the attraction so you won’t be asked to leave before you’re ready.
Take Your Time
There are so many levels of detail in Omega Mart, so the key is to take your time. If you rush around and try to finish as quickly as possible, there’s so much stuff you’re going to miss – going slowly and taking it all in will ensure you make the most of the experience.
Keep an Eye on Other People
While inside, you’ll see people disappearing into or appearing out of secret passages, and keeping your eyes open and noticing what other people are doing is a good way to spot things that you might otherwise have missed!
You Don’t Need to Squeeze Through All the Tightest Passages
Some of the secret passages are quite small and might require you to squeeze through or even crawl on your hands and knees.
However, if a passage is too tight or you’re unable or unwilling to crawl, there’s always another way to get from one place to another, so you don’t need to worry about it.
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A Unique Attraction That’s Well Worth a Visit
Entrance prices to Omega Mart might seem a little steep, and you might even think this kind of thing is not your idea of fun.
However, this is a unique attraction and you’re unlikely to experience anything like it anywhere else, so if you’re in Vegas and are looking for something a bit different to try, Omega Mart certainly fits the bill.