AREA15 Las Vegas – What the Hell Is It? (I’ll Tell You)

Key Points:

• Area15 is an entertianment district, home to 30+ attractions ranging from VR experiences & haunted houses to arcades & rides.

• The most popular is Omega Mart by Meow Wolf, a grocery store… but there’s more than meets the eye.

• Admission is free, and attractions can be purchased individually or as part of a bundled experience pass.

Located just off the Strip, Area15 is home to an insane array of attractions that can be purchased individually or as part of a bundled experience pass that’ll save you a few bucks.

Area15 opened in 2020, and its footprint has expanded significantly since then. Needless to say, it’s been a hit.

Anyone can get in and walk around for free; just reserve a ticket online in advance.

Parking is free for NV residents, but cars with out-of-state plates have to pony up $6.99… which I found odd. Choose your rental car wisely.

An Uber/Lyft from the Strip will cost under $15.

I’ve been to Area15 several times over the years, and figured it’d be fun to give you a look under the hood.

Most folks will enter the main building through Art Island, which has been scaled back a bit over the years, but is still home to some interesting sculptures.

While dabbling in psychedelic drugs has never been a hobby of mine, I can imagine Area15 as being something those that do would enjoy. Guests are immediately welcomed by a giant 3D skull that is brought to life via projector technology.

Sharing the “wow factor” of the illuminated skull was Area15’s Oddwood bar, which boasts an illuminated tree as its centerpiece that’s synchronized to Area15’s music (pictured below). In every direction you look, there’s a new, visually stimulating, piece of art on display.

The recent Zone 2 Expansion essentially doubled the size of A15, adding new attractions such as Universal Horror Unleashed, The Great Big Game Show, and Interstellar Arc.

The coolest part of the area is a repurposed Boeing 747 that was previously used as an art installation at Burning Man.

Due to the size of the campus, they have a free tram, humorously called the Grounded Intra-District Tram (GIT), that shuttles folks between the main, original building and the Zone 2 expansion. It’s easily walkable as well.

Things To Do at Area15

There are 30+ paid attractions within Area15, and I’ll highlight some of the most popular below.

I’ve done many of them, and I’ll link to my review of each where applicable.

Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart: The premier attraction at Area15 is Omega Mart, a 52,000-square-foot “supermarket store experience”.

Inside are an abundance of odd, out-of-this-world, and even humorous product offerings. The trippy part, however, is the portals you’ll find leading to “other dimensions”.

There’s a whole backstory about Dramcorp and what nefarious things they’re up to, with clues throughout to solve the mystery if you’re so inclined.

I didn’t really care about the backstory and still had a blast.

Adult tickets start at $46.

John Wick Experience: One of the newest additions to Area15, the John Wick Experience is billed as an immersive “initiation into the dangerous and captivating world of John Wick, where loyalties are tested, alliances forged and danger is just a breath away.”

Adult tickets start at $54.

Birdly: A virtual reality experience, riders on birdly are strapped to what can only be described as a mechanical skeleton that moves like, and positions the rider like a bird.

VR glasses are strapped on, and a fan in front of the rider simulates the wind generated by their simulated flight. Riders choose where they want to fly. Options include New York City, or prehistoric worlds.

Adult tickets start at $15.

Haley’s Comet: Riders take a spin on a “roller glider,” a zipline/rollercoaster hybrid suspended from the roof that offers an aerial tour of the property.

This is the least thrilling zipline attraction in Vegas. It’s slow, leisurely, and not that high. Great for kids.

Adult rides start at $15.

Museum Fiasco “Cluster”: An immersive experience that will stimulate your senses.

Think of it as an expertly synchronized sound and light show in a cavernous warehouse in which the artist has used the columns and depth of the space spectacularly.

Adult tickets are $15, and I thought this one was really cool.

Asylum Arcade: Complete with a bar, pool tables, and arcade favorites, Asylum is a great spot to let your inner kid out to play. It used to be 21+, but is now open to all ages.

Fantasy Claw Arcade: Paired with Asylum is the Fantasy Claw Arcade, which is jam-packed with claw games. Just claw games.

It’s got a cool look.

Rocket Fizz: Not an attraction, but a store stocked with a metric crap ton of candies, both common and unique. It’s a fun browse.

Wink World: Ever wonder what infinity looks like? Look into portals that are intended to give you just that – A visual representation of infinity.

Adult admission is $15, and I found it underwhelming.

Dueling Axes: Drink beer, throw axes at targets, and try not to kill or maim anyone in your party.

Live Music: Area15 also frequently hosts live music and events. You can check the calendar for upcoming shows here.

New Attractions in Zone 2

Universal Horror Unleashed: A year-round attraction, Horror Unleashed is home to 4 “cinimatically themed” haunted houses, roaming characters, restaurants, and bars.

Current haunted house themes include “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, “Universal Monsters”, “Scarecrow, the Reaping”, and “The Exorcist”.

Admission starts at $29 for admission, but no haunted houses. For $59, you can enter each haunted house once.

Eye Dropper: A 200-foot-tall “psychedelic” drop tower; adult rides cost $20.

Interstellar Arc: A combo of VR and “cinematic storytelling”, Interstellar Arc takes participants on a trip to explore the planet Arcadia.

11 light-years from Earth, it’s humanity’s new home… so I hope you like it.

The Escape Game & Great Big Game Show: The Escape Game is a series of escape rooms that take 60 minutes to navigate, and the Great Big Game Show is your crew’s opportunity to compete against each other on what feels like an actual made-for-TV game show.

Museum of Ice Cream: Admission starts at $42 and includes *unlimited ice cream*. You’ll also have access to explore each of their themed rooms and the world’s largest Sprinkle Pool.

The rooms are essentially elaborate photo ops, and early reviews seem positive.

Looper Merry-Go-Round: You or your kid can ride this thing for $5.

There are also a ton of cool photo ops sprinkled in, including a handful of wild vehicles and shipping container boxes with psychedelic scenes.

Is Area15 Worth Visiting

I was skeptical when it first opened. Quite frankly, I didn’t know what the hell it was.

Since then, it’s only gotten better. There’s a TON to do there, and there’s legitimately something for all tastes. You won’t love everything, but you’ll like something.

And if you don’t… well… you’re lame.

This may be one of the best kid-friendly attractions in Las Vegas, and the experience passes offer great value compared to buying access on a one-off basis.

Area15 has been a great addition to the Las Vegas entertianment landscape.