Nickelodeon Universe
For the Nickelodeon themed area inside Kings Island theme park, see Kings Island - Nickelodeon Universe.
| Previously known as Knott's Camp Snoopy (1992-?) Camp Snoopy (?-2006) The Park at MOA (January 9, 2006-March 14, 2008) | |
 Nickelodeon Universe | |
| Location | Bloomington, Minnesota, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Opened | Camp Snoopy - August 11, 1992 Nickelodeon Universe - March 15, 2008 |
| Owner | Triple Five Group (owners of Mall of America) |
| Operating season | Indoors, open all year |
| Area | 7 acres (28,000 m2) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 27+ |
| Roller coasters | 5 |
| Water rides | 1 |
| Website | Official Website |
Nickelodeon Universe (originally Knott's Camp Snoopy, later known as The Park at MOA) is the seven acre (28,000 m²) amusement park located in the center of the Mall of America (MOA), in Bloomington, Minnesota, USA.
Design
Nickelodeon Universe is primarily lit by a glass ceiling, which is also the source of most of the heat for the Mall of America. It was originally built by Knott's Berry Farm. Unlike many indoor amusement parks, Nickelodeon Universe has a great deal of natural foliage in and about the park, and its floor has a wide variance in height - the highest ground level in the park is 15 feet (4.6 m) above the lowest. This allows for a far more naturalistic experience than would normally be possible in an indoor amusement park.
The Park has some small roller coasters, but mainly has flat rides due to space constraints. Near the Rugrats Reptarmobiles is the site of home plate for Metropolitan Stadium, which was located on the site of the Mall.
History
Camp Snoopy
The park was originally known as Knotts Camp Snoopy, and later, simply Camp Snoopy, and was themed around the Charles M. Schulz "Peanuts" comic strip characters. Camp Snoopy themed areas are still located at the following Cedar Fair parks: Cedar Point, Dorney Park, Knott's Berry Farm, Worlds of Fun, and Michigan's Adventure. Although in 2008, Cedar Point will open a new Snoopy themed children's area, Planet Snoopy, in the location of the former Peanuts Playground. [1]
Camp Snoopy was never aggressively themed to the Peanuts franchise; the park had a very outdoors and woodsy feel with more subtle references to the Peanuts franchise. Much of the original theming in Camp Snoopy fountain and all around the park were already toned down by the time the rights to the Peanuts characters were lost.
Theming that was removed from the park prematurely and was never replaced include various kites near the ceiling, Charlie Brown and Lucy playing baseball above the Sports grill restaurant (although their baseball remained suspended in the air afterwards), theming in Snoopy fountain, the retheming of Snoopy Boutique to the Snoopy Shop [2] and much smaller theming.
On April 7, 1998, New Horizon Kids Quest, Inc. opened a Kids Quest hourly child care facility in Knott's Camp Snoopy. The facility incorporated 17,385 square feet (1,615.1 m2) and served children ages six weeks to twelve years until it was removed in 2007. [3]
In 2005, there were plans to revitalize the Camp Snoopy image, and a new logo was introduced in October, called the "roller coaster logo" to replace the "canoe logo", however this did not last long as there were even bigger and unexpected changes coming within the next few months.
The Park at MOA
On January 9, 2006, Mall of America management announced that talks between MoA and Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. (which owns the national rights to amusement-park branding of the Peanuts license) had broken down, primarily over the Mall's rights to effectively market its park within and outside of the United States, and effective January 19, the park's Peanuts branding would end, the park being temporarily renamed "The Park at MOA" while new branding was being applied. All traces of the Peanuts branding was removed, some very sloppily. The inflatable Snoopy character was removed and it took several months before it was finally replaced by a generic tree house inflatable. Many other landmarks in the park were either replaced by generic landmarks or not replaced at all. [4]
Nickelodeon Universe
The park's new licensing deal and name, "Nickelodeon Universe", was announced on July 25, 2007.[5] Construction began on August 27 2007 with work to be completed in sections so 80 percent to 90 percent of the park remains accessible at all times. Nickelodeon Universe was completed on March 15, 2008.[6]
New rides include SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge, a Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter style coaster themed after the Nickelodeon show SpongeBob SquarePants, the Splat-O-Sphere, a tower drop-ride in the center of the park, and the Avatar Airbender, a surf-rider attraction located in the center of the park as well.
The site of the Mystery Mine Ride was completely demolished to make way for SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge, a new Gerstlauer roller coaster. This site also included an Old Time Photography studio, and restrooms. Old Time Photography relocated into the mall and restrooms did not return in this section of the park.
Levy Restaurants partnered with Nickelodeon Universe to include a themed restaurant at the park. The restaurant is called EATS, and it is located in the former Park at MOA food court.
On March 12, 2008, the Star Tribune reported that the price of ride points, daily wristbands, and, in particular, annual passes would take a significant price hike once the park transitioned to Nickelodeon Universe. The price for an annual pass, which has remained $99 per year since the park opened in 1992, will increase to $250, and daily wristbands will be raised from $24.95 to $29.95. Some decried the price increases as being unjustifiably high, when compared to other parks, such as much larger Walt Disney World at $249.95 and local park Valleyfair at $79.95-$99.95. Others defended the pricing as necessary to accommodate the millions of dollars of investment needed to rebrand the park as Nickelodeon Universe. [7]
Logos
-
Original Camp Snoopy logo opening August 1992-October 2005.
-
Planned new Camp Snoopy logo, October 2005-January 2006.
-
Transitional "The Park at MOA" logo January 2006-March 14, 2008.
-
"Nickelodeon Universe" logo used beginning on March 15, 2008.
Rides/Attractions
The park is free to enter, but the rides require patrons to purchase a varying number of tickets (points), depending upon the type of ride. Unlimited single rider wristbands or season passes are also available.
Rides
| Thrill rides | ||
|---|---|---|
| Camp Snoopy | The Park at MOA | Nickelodeon Universe |
| Pepsi Ripsaw | Pepsi Ripsaw | Pepsi Orange Streak |
| Screaming Yellow Eagle | Screaming Yellow Eagle | Danny Phantom Ghost Zone |
| The Mighty Axe | The Mighty Axe | Tak Attack |
| Timberland Twister | Timberland Twister | Fairly Odd Coaster |
| Treetop Tumbler | Treetop Tumbler | Jimmy Neutron's Atomic Collider |
| Mystery Mine Ride (1992-2007) | Mystery Mine Ride (1992-2007) | xx |
| xx | xx | SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge |
| xx | xx | Avatar Airbender |
| xx | xx | Splat-O-Sphere |
| Family rides | ||
|---|---|---|
| Camp Snoopy | The Park at MOA | Nickelodeon Universe |
| Americana Carousel | Americana Carousel | Carousel [8] |
| Bumpers | Bumpers | Naked Brothers Crazy Cars |
| Ghost Blasters | Ghost Blasters | Ghost Blasters |
| Paul Bunyan's Log Chute | Paul Bunyan's Log Chute | Log Chute[9] |
| Skyscraper Ferris Wheel | Skyscraper Ferris Wheel | El Circulo del Cielo |
| The Kite-Eating Tree | Tree Swing | Backyardigans Swing-Along |
| Kiddie rides | ||
|---|---|---|
| Camp Snoopy | The Park at MOA | Nickelodeon Universe |
| Balloon Race | Balloon Race | Balloon Race |
| Bloomington Express | Bloomington Express | La Aventura de Azul |
| Snoopy Bounce | Bounce | Pineapple Poppers |
| Camp Bus | Camp Bus | Diego's Rescue Rider |
| Frog Hopper | Frog Hopper | Wonder Pets Flyboat |
| Li'l Shaver | Li'l Shaver | Back at the Barnyard Hayride |
| Red Baron | Red Baron | Blue's Skidoo |
| Speedway | Speedway | Swiper's Sweeper |
| Truckin' | Truckin' | Big Rigs |
| Huff and Puff (1992-1995) | xx | xx |
| xx | xx | Rugrats Reptarmobiles |
Restaurants
- Eats
- Caribou Coffee
- Kemps Ice Cream Cafe
Accidents
- In April 1998, a dime-sized plastic nut in the ride "The Mighty Axe" (now known as Tak Attack) came loose causing the ride to come to a stop with the riders stuck upside down at the very top of the ride. The loose nut had interrupted the power to the seating platform. The five riders were stuck for about an hour before park mechanics were able to get them down.[10]
- On Saturday, August 1, 1998, a 12-year-old boy fell off the log chute. The boy began to panic and stood up to reach a railing. The ride was stopped, however the cart began to fall. Losing his grip he fell off the chute, falling on to the landscaping rocks. O.D. Hopkins Associates, Inc., the manufacturer of the ride inspected it, they found the ride was in proper working order. The boy died from the injuries of falling off the chute. It was Camp Snoopy's first major accident. [11]
- On Saturday, August 15, 1998, an 8-year-old girl died of a heart attack after she rode the Screaming Yellow Eagle (now known as Danny Phantom Ghost Zone). She had a history of heart problems for the five years before her death. The ride was working properly.[12]
- On November 4, 2007, a conveyor belt on the log chute malfunctioned, causing one cart to crash into the other. However, there were only minor injuries. The ride was inspected and fixed. The ride reopened on November 15, 2007.[13]
- On May 14, 2008, four people were slightly injured, suffering minor leg injuries when the Backyardigans Swing Along ride malfunctioned, apparently spinning at a faster than normal rate. The ride was shut down as soon when it became apparent that the ride was malfunctioning. The ride has been at the mall since it opened in 1992. The ride remained shut down until maintenance crews located and fixed the problem. [14][15] On May 18, 2008, The ride was inspected and fixed. The ride reopened on May 19, 2008. [citation needed]
References
- ^ Planet Snoopy coming to Cedar Point in 2008.
- ^ Website featuring news on Camp Snoopy from 2000-2005.
- ^ KidsQuest opens at Knott's Camp Snoopy April 7, 1998.
- ^ Press Release The Park at MOA
- ^ Carissa Wyant, MOA unveils Nickelodeon theme park name, Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal, July 25, 2007.
- ^ Nickelodeon Universe and MOA set date for theme park opening
- ^ New Mall of America rides put an extra nick in your wallet
- ^ Nickelodeon Universe | Nick O Round
- ^ Nickelodeon Universe | Log Chute
- ^ http://gyxe.com/schizophrenia/35-785-adv-news-camp-snoopy-visitors-trapped-upside-down-on-ride-read.shtml ADV-NEWS, Camp Snoopy visitors trapped upside down on ride.
- ^ http://www.rideaccidents.com/1998.html RideAccidents.com 1998 Ride Accidents Reports and News
- ^ RideAccidents.com - 1998 Accident Reports and News
- ^ StarTribune Mall of America log chute ride reopens after malfunction November 15, 2007
- ^ StarTribune MOA ride malfunctions, slightly injuring 2 adults, 2 children May 14, 2008
- ^ TwinCities.com Two children, two adults injured on Mall of America ride May 14, 2008
