A cofounder of Meow Wolf, a celebrated immersive art installation in Santa Fe, New Mexico, has stepped down from the company and is headed for Texas with a new psychedelic venture. Corvas Brinkerhoff will be adding water to the Meow mix, launching a "trippy spa" called Submersive in Austin, Fast Company reported Monday.
The 25,000-square-foot spa will feature video projection, immersive art, steam, lasers, and AI technology, said Brinkerhoff, with the ultimate goal of "using neuroscience to help visitors achieve elevated states of mind, like awe and euphoria."
Brinkerhoff said he got the idea while relaxing at a "Japanese-inspired spa" in Santa Fe that is almost certainly Ten Thousand Waves — a subdued, minimalist luxury destination focused on the "salutary effects of hot water" and the bath tradition of "winding down from the day, meeting friends, taking time off with the family, and relaxing," according to its website.
Submersive's website says it will be "a spa that takes you beyond relaxation into elevated states of consciousness." Much like the various Meow Wolf installations — there are four now, with Houston and Los Angeles versions on the way — the 12-room spa will incorporate video installations, sound baths, and other immersive art elements.
Submersive will conduct the $15 million project in phases, with part of the spa opening in 2026 and the completed structure debuting in 2028. The company estimates that it will attract 200,000 visitors a year at a ticket price of $88 per person. Its exact location in Austin hasn't been announced.
