Faces and Places is a Grand Prairie–based community series that shines a spotlight on the people and businesses that make our city unique. Each episode takes you behind the scenes at local restaurants, shops, and venues — giving you an inside look at the faces behind the counter and the places that bring us together. If you’d like to have your business featured, email us at facesofgrandprairie@gmail.com.
Back in November of 1971, the Grand Prairie Daily News announced something big. The Southwestern Wax Museum — once a small Fair Park exhibit — was moving to a brand-new palace on Thornton Freeway. The article promised an opera house–style building, filled with Texas legends, antique treasures, and famous faces in wax. City leaders believed it would bring thousands of visitors and help put Grand Prairie on the map.
More than fifty years later, that vision is still alive — and bigger than ever. What started as one wax museum has grown into Ripley’s Believe It or Not and five attractions under one roof. Today, we’re taking you behind the scenes at this iconic landmark — a place where history, pop culture, and community memories all come together.
General Manager Rachel Rotella and Marketing Manager Lino guide us through all five attractions: the Ripley’s Museum, Louis Tussaud’s Wax Museum, the Mirror Maze, the 7D Moving Theater, and Ripley’s Power Up Game. Along the way, we learn about the history of the Palace of Wax, unique exhibits like Pilgrimage: The Life of Jesus Christ, interactive experiences such as wax hands, and the blend of education, entertainment, and community that makes Ripley’s a beloved local landmark.
In October, Ripley’s will transform its attractions for Halloween, a tradition that’s been carried on for decades. Tickets are $29.99 per person and can be purchased here.
In other wonderful news, Fox 4 reported that in August, “Hawaiian Falls water parks join Ripley's 100+ attractions across nine countries, including Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Ripley’s Aquariums, Great Wolf Lodge (Niagara Falls), Guinness World Records attractions, wax museums, traveling shows, miniature golf courses, mirror mazes, and more.
Hawaiian Falls tells its visitors that there will be no change to their current daily ticket or season pass programs. 2025 and 2026 season passes are still valid at all three parks and now include one FREE admission at Ripley's Believe It or Not in Grand Prairie, Texas with a 2026 season pass.”
(Editor’s Note: In the video, I said passholders had until September 30 to visit Ripleys, but that was untrue - annual passes must be purchased by September 30 but passholders can visit Ripley’s anytime until the end of the year)
