From overlooked roadside attractions to unusual museums and obscure natural wonders, Local Hidden Gems will showcase some of the unique and unexpected treasures that make America extraordinary. We emphasize charm, surprise and delight.
Local hidden gem: Other world in Columbus, Ohio
At Otherworld in Columbus, it’s easy to get lost in this immersive experience and almost impossible to distinguish dreams versus reality, fact versus fiction, and realism versus imagination.
Four walls are not enough to contain the multi-dimensional dreamscapes of Otherworld. Nestled in Columbus, Ohio’s largest city, the 32,000-square-foot immersive art museum is an experience where art and entertainment collide in 47 mixed-reality spaces to transport visitors to another world – and often to an alternate universe .
“You’re transferred to a new world, and in a way you’re trying to come up with the concept: Is this reality or is this a dream?” said Jon Stewart, director of operations at Otherworld.
Named a top 10 immersive art experience in the country by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards in 2024, Otherworld is not just any ordinary art museum. Since first opening in 2019, Otherworld has gained national attention and will open an even larger location in Philadelphia in 2023.
Otherworld encourages all visitors to engage, interact and play with every part of the art, enhancing its otherworldly effect through secret passageways, interactive art and mixed reality playgrounds. It features a whopping 190,000 LEDs and is home to concerts, dance parties, craft classes and performance art.
Local Hidden Gems: A spotlight on the American treasures in our backyards
Step inside 47 rooms, 190,000 LEDs, 1 otherworldly experience
In Otherworld, a realm where science fiction and fantasy collide, you become a crucial part of their story from the moment you arrive.
As a visitor, you play the role of a beta tester in an abandoned research facility, where you are alone to explore and discover this alternate reality full of mystical creatures, abstract lighting and supernatural imagery. Along the way you’ll encounter three major puzzles to solve and smaller details you can interact with along the way.
More than 40 artists, 54 projectors and 190,000 LEDs bring the experience to life.
“It all comes down to the look and color,” Stewart said. It can take months to make an installation. Otherworld is constantly adding new exhibits to maintain a fresh experience for guests.
At Otherworld Columbus, getting lost in the woods is a good thing
Considered the centerpiece of the entire experience, the enchanted forest is a sight to behold. A large tree in the center of the space greets visitors with interactive elements that can be touched and played, including a giant mouse figure.
“There are creatures and orbs and everything that lights up the room, it’s very different. It’s something you would experience like in one of those sci-fi Twilight Zone movies,” said Stewart.
The newest exhibit, an ocean exhibit, features an underwater theme where you try to solve a sea monster puzzle, where touching the sea monster eggs in a unique sequence will trigger a light and sound experience. Once you enter the monster’s mouth, you find yourself in a life-size kaleidoscope.
There’s no right or wrong way to explore Otherworld
Otherworld says that whether you’re in the infinity LED mirror room with pole mirrors or the spider room, each section offers a different feeling for both children and adults.
“We want to create fun and memories, and this is the perfect place for family and friends to escape,” Stewart said.
He explains that Otherworld is a place completely unique to Ohio, rooted in community and fueled by those who can experience it personally. He encourages anyone who wants to visit to “come and discover the unusual, where we make the impossible possible.”
Opening hours in other worlds
During your visit, you can spend 1 to 3 hours exploring Otherworld in Columbus. Tickets cost 30 euros and can only be purchased online. Otherworld Columbus is located at 5819 Chantry Drive in Columbus.
Monday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM–10:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM–10:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM–10:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
This article originally appeared in The Columbus Dispatch: Sci-fi meets fantasy in Otherworld, an immersive experience in Ohio
