Summary of Minnesota Theme Parks
There aren’t many theme parks in Minnesota. In fact, there are really only two major ones. They are, however, quite popular and, in the case of Nickelodeon Universe, quite unique. The state’s parks and attractions are arranged alphabetically:
Como Town in St. Paul
Located next to the Como Zoo and Conservatory, this small (four-acre) outdoor amusement park is geared towards younger children. Its thrill rides include the Tiger Trax roller coaster. At 33 feet, it is not as thrilling compared to much larger rides at other parks. Additionally, the relatively short (36 feet) Drop Zone tower ride and the S.S. Swashbuckler swinging pirate ship are categorized as “thrill rides,” but they are quite tame by comparison. Como Town also offers a handful of family-friendly attractions including a Tilt-A-Whirl, small train, bumper cars, and spinning teacups.
Admission is free, and visitors can either purchase points to ride individual rides or enjoy unlimited ride wristbands. A cafe is located nearby, just outside the park near the zoo.
Mall of America Attractions in Bloomington
As one of the largest indoor retail, dining, and entertainment complexes in the world, the Mall of America is an attraction in its own right. It houses Nickelodeon Universe and several attractions with park-like features, which include:
- Sea Life Aquarium featuring marine life exhibits with sharks, rays, sea turtles, and jellyfish. Interactive activities include touch pools and stamp stations.
- Crayola Experience allows you to learn how crayons are made, star in a coloring page, and engage in other exciting activities.
- Smaaash offers an entertainment center with e-sports, gaming, virtual reality, and dining options.
- FlyOver America lets you soar across America and Canada in a flying theater experience modeled after Disney’s Soarin’.
Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America in Bloomington
This expansive indoor theme park is one of the largest in the world and part of the massive Mall of America. Admission is free, allowing visitors to either purchase a pay-one-price wristband for unlimited rides or buy points for individual rides. The park, previously known as Knott’s Camp Snoopy, is now themed around Nickelodeon characters like SpongeBob SquarePants.
Highlights include the Fairly Odd Coaster spinning coaster, SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge coaster, the Orange Streak coaster, and the Dora the Explorer-themed Ferris wheel called El Circulo del Cielo. Additional attractions feature the interactive dark ride, Ghost Blasters, the themed Log Chute log flume, and the family drop ride, Splat-O-Sphere.
Valleyfair in Shakopee
Valleyfair is Minnesota’s premier outdoor theme park, showcasing an impressive lineup of roller coasters, including the hypercoaster Wild Thing and the classic High Roller wooden coaster. Visitors can reconnect with beloved characters from the Peanuts gang, which are also featured in rides themed to them. Admission includes access to the adjacent Soak City water park.
Other thrilling attractions include the Power Tower freefall ride, the 185-foot Steel Venom impulse coaster, the Xtreme Swing thrill ride, and the breathtaking 230-foot North Star swing ride. Younger guests can enjoy options like the Cosmic Coaster, Peanuts Playhouse, and Snoopy’s Rocket Express.
Other Parks
- Although not a theme park, the expansive Water Park of America, located near the Mall of America, is an excellent indoor water park and hotel.
- Discover various indoor water parks available throughout Minnesota.
- Explore outdoor water parks in Minnesota.
- Learn about indoor water parks in nearby Wisconsin, which are plentiful.
- Investigate theme parks and amusement parks in nearby Wisconsin.
- Find theme parks in nearby Iowa.
- Explore indoor and outdoor water parks in Iowa.
