We Experienced Netflix House Dallas With the Cast of ‘Stranger Things’ and Even They Didn't See This Coming

A demogorgon, Young-hee, Queen Charlotte, and the iconic Straw Hats jolly roger are the first things to greet you as you head toward two giant red doors. Inside, it's like you stepped into your TV as a giant version of Thing's hand sits alongside a giant Tuckersoft screen. You can't go two feet without seeing a symbol or character from one of your favorite Netflix films or shows at Netflix House Dallas, one of the new entertainment venues from the streamer. Following the opening of a Philadelphia location, Netflix decided to focus on the T and X in its name for its second location, bringing to life some of its iconic IPs right next to the Galleria Dallas, hoping to become the next new hotspots for superfans and locals.

On the first floor, there's two immersive experiences focusing on Squid Game and Stranger Things. Up the red stairs that make you feel like you're walking on the iconic Tudum sound, there's a special cafeteria with themed food and drinks, an arcade game where a K-Pop Demon Hunters cosplayer took home a Wednesday-themed eyeball, and a gift shop that has some of the best Lady Whistledown merch that I'm still kicking myself for not grabbing to wear.

As a person who survived a real-life version of Squid Game twice—once in a pop-up in New York and another on the actual set of Squid Game: The Challenge—I was offering tips to first-timers who were finally getting to play it for themselves. Even Perla, the recent winner of Squid Game: The Challenge, wasn't afraid of letting someone else take the crown this time.

"I'm excited to see the games. And, you know, play against Jeffrey," she said. "Maybe let him win..."

And, even then, I still wasn't prepared for everything that was about to go down. Thankfully, we had all night to explore it all and also talk to our Netflix faves to talk about their expectations as well.

Justin Clemons/NETFLIX

It's probably not too surprising to hear that Netflix is going a more permanent route with their new venues. After successful pop-ups all over the world including special The Queen's Bridgerton balls and Stranger Things haunted houses at Universal's Halloween Horror Nights over the years, it's very clear that fans are looking for more ways to dive into their favorite shows.

"If you're a fan, you want to experience it with a community of other rabid fans," Marian Lee, Netflix’s Chief Marketing Officer exclusively told Cosmopolitan. "But it's not something that you have to save for a year and book five days vacation to come and see. We want to be in your backyard."

While over the years, most pop-ups have focused on major cities like Los Angeles, New York, and other top cities around the world, this time they wanted to give something to other cities that are obsessed with Netflix.

"We definitely use the data," she continued. "When we did the K-Pop Demon Hunters sing-alongs in movie theaters, Dallas was in the top four cities of theaters selling out." And now fans can walk into the gift shop and pick up an exclusive light stick that you can only get in the Netflix House shop.

Despite it being a permanent location, everything inside is anything but. The big pieces popping out of the walls? They can be taken down and replaced with whatever the next big thing that viewers are obsessed with. The special pop-ups downstairs? They can be packed up and shipped off to other locations.

"They can basically take it down and move it in three to five days. You would take one down at a time and swap," Marian revealed. "Two to get one experience out and two to get another one in and pop it up."

Which means fans won't have to go to every location all they have to offer. With a Philadelphia location already open, a Vegas spot coming up next, and other plans in the works, traveling won't be necessary to get to check out the other fun immersive rooms that they have.

Richard Rodriguez//Getty Images

Before getting the chance to experience it for myself, the cast of Stranger Things let me know how real it felt go through the haunted house-like pop-up: Stranger Things: Escape the Dark.

"It's scary. There's so many good details from the set that they put in here," Cara Buono, who plays Karen Wheeler in Stranger Things, said on the red carpet. "They've done a really good job of recreating the sets here."

Participants take part of a search team to find three missing Hawkins residents, including Eddie Munson, after they have disappeared from Hawkins. Searching different locations—Hawkins High, Hawkins Police Station, Eddie's Trailer, and Camp Byers—fans have to find clues to see what really happened to those who went missing. However, with Hawkins on high alert over other possible disappearances, there's no telling what other hidden horrors might be lurking around.

"I could have enjoyed it more the second time through, probably because I was so scared things were going to jump out," Ted Wheeler actor Joe Chrest told Cosmopolitan.

The sets are impressive, with one room using special lighting effects to make it appear like you're in a sepia-lit dream. Since the rooms are more permanent and don't have to be outside under tents like at Halloween Horror Nights, the team is able to other pieces like digital screens to take the immersiveness even further.

For super fans, it's another part of the story. But with a show like Stranger Things, where every detail matters, you won't feel like you're missing out on any details especially as the series wraps its final season. Like the current stage play, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, it adds to what is happening, but you won't be lost if you don't get to check it out right away.

Both Stranger Things: The First Shadow and Squid Game: The Trials require separate tickets and start at $39. They each run for about an hour with pulses (or rounds) starting throughout the day.

Richard Rodriguez

At RePLAY, I get pulled into an unexpected game with several other players that requires to traverse a ball throughout a moveable maze in order to meet up with several of the Bridgertons. To my right, there's a first-person shooter game connected to Crunchyroll Anime Award Anime of the Year winner Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. Several players are jumping up and down to avoid certain spots on the floor in another section that brings to life Floor is Lava.

There's also two more immersive games that require several players: one for the anime Sakamoto Days and another for Stranger Things. Game cards start at $10 and are reloadable, making it easy for you to re-use them later if you wish to come back, but also affordable for families who are looking to kill some time.

Richard Rodriguez//Getty Images

It's clear that for the streamer, they're not just looking at their biggest hits, but are really thinking about different kinds of viewers. It's also seen throughout their restaurant, Netflix Bites.

Looking up, fans can see little nods to different shows in fun and eclectic neon signs. Marian immediately recommends me to try Ann Kim's Perfect Pickle Pie from Chef's Table, a vegan pizza that immediately gets snatched up as soon as it's put out by one of the waiters.

One Piece lovers who always wanted to try one of Sanji's dishes can pick up the Grand Line Fish Sandwich while also looking at some hidden Devil Fruit throughout the restaurant. There's also special cocktails like the Très Chic Sprtiz inspired by Emily in Paris, which may or may not include Champère.

After looking at the food options throughout the Galleria Dallas and finding mostly national chains, it does add much more needed variety to the place giving it a lot of potential for those who are looking for something different on a night out.

"We hope you come back frequently, because you have RePLAY and then maybe you're coming in to get a pizza," Marian said. "But the next time you come in, you're ready to do one of the immersive experiences."

With no reservations needed and an open seating plan, it's a much more chic food court experience that also serves as a special event space for pop-up events like one they hosted for NFL Christmas Gameday, which immediately sold out.

Despite part of the immersiveness being the ability to transport you to various different worlds, shows, and movies, Netflix doesn't want you to forget that you are in Dallas. With special merch emphasizing the T and X in their name, Marian admits that the local merch has been a huge hit with locals, especially in Philadelphia and no doubt will be in Dallas as well.

"It is a little bit of a tribute, I would say. We have this local merch and you cannot get it anywhere else. We want to acknowledge that we care where we are. We have invested in this community," she said. "We're hiring locally. We built this with local builders, local contractors, local subcontractors."

Justin Clemons/NETFLIX

It makes sense, especially with both the Philadelphia and Dallas locations being located near malls. Not only does it bring competition to other shops like BoxLunch that may sell other licensed merchandise, but it allows Netflix to bring exclusive collections directly to the consumer all on their own. With one other location already confirmed in Las Vegas, and more possible locations being looked at, it's all clear that this is part of Netflix's bigger plan to continue to bring Netflix House to other markets.

"We hope to be in every major neighborhood and we hope that you will get a chance to come visit us," Marian said.

Netflix House Dallas is now open at Galleria Dallas.