Multiversal Travel Companion Alva Is Ready to Take You Through Convergence Station

Just in time for all those holiday visits, Meow Wolf Denver has introduced a new app, Psychic Sensor, designed to elevate the visitor experience at Convergence Station. When you activate the app, multiversal travel companion Alva appears, sending notifications when you can collect psychic traces or uncover significant discoveries in the immersive installation’s four worlds.

The original version of the app was released about a year ago in Santa Fe, home of Meow Wolf’s flagship attraction, House of Eternal Return, which the then-scrappy artist collective opened in 2016. Since then, Meow Wolf has grown into a major entertainment corporation, with locations in Las Vegas, Dallas and Houston, as well as the Denver site, which opened in September 2021. Ultimately, each spot will have its own version of Psychic Sensor.

“So the idea behind having an application is that it removes the barrier to all of those different kinds of layers of travelers,” explains Ru Johnson, public relations manager for Meow Wolf Denver. “The application allows for there to be not just a creative perspective with how people experience the exhibit, but it allows them to take a little piece of the Meow experience with them when they leave.”

The app also allows for a deeper connection with Convergence Station, allowing visitors to make their own discoveries. “We were really excited about the opportunity to explore how to transition our world-building and art creation into a digital space,” says Becky Neil, Meow Wolf’s mobile app product manager. “We wanted to bring creativity and inspiration to everyone, anywhere. The app evolved into a subversive pocket portal that connects our guests deeper into imaginative realms of exploration, play and discovery. With our app, our fans can connect with us and with one another even when they’re not visiting the exhibition.”

At Convergence Station, Psychic Sensor gives you access to exclusive content with special insights and updates, “psychic weather” forecasts, and behind-the-scenes videos with artists that offer a compelling backstory of how each exhibition was created. Using the app, you can learn the origin story of Meow Wolf and discover the hurdles the group had to overcome to open the Denver location.

According to Neil, the technology embeds different software and hardware in a subtle way to highlight each artist’s creativity. “From the start of our DIY days, Meow Wolf has pushed the boundaries of technology that
supports immersive experiences,” she says. “Our creative engineers pioneered revolutionary solutions to power worlds at this scale and engage guests with the world we created – making it beyond immersive. Our audio, video, lighting, hardware and software teams are making extraordinary art alongside our fabrication and art teams. While some entertainment places technology at the forefront, making glitzy gadgets obvious, you’ll see a lot more nuanced use of technology in our worlds. Sometimes you don’t even know it’s there because it feels so real.”

Meow Wolf is now reviewing how AI technology could add to its installations. “AI is evolving fast, and its impact on art is both exciting and complicated,” says Neil. “At Meow Wolf, where tech and a close-knit artist community collide, we see how big these conversations are – and how important it is to ask the right questions. The ethical and societal implications deserve more thought than I can give here, but it’s clear we need to ensure AI supports, not undermines, creative communities.”

Future innovations of the app could include integration with events hosted by Convergence Station, but for now Meow Wolf Denver hopes guests will use Psychic Sensor for an immersive experience that inspires them to make multiple visits.

“Piece together the mystery, find hidden gems, learn more about the art, and immerse yourself deeply in the in-exhibit experience,” says Neil. “Each time you come back, you can discover more and more about Convergence and get to know the world even better.”

Tickets to Convergence Station start at $45; it’s located at 1338 First Street. Find more information at meowwolf.com.