The Park at Mall of America to debut Gerstlauer Euro Fighter

[FParker185]

Mall unveils expansion plans
Staff Reports

CHRIS POLYDOROFF, PIONEER PRESS

A new roller coaster ride, a Bass Pro Shop and an attached hotel will
be among the additions to the Mall of America's current complex and its
$1 billion-plus Phase II addition, mall officials said this afternoon
at a press conference.

The Mall of America said Bass Pro Shops, a Springfield, Mo.-based
outdoor retailer, would lease about 300,000 square feet in its 5.6
million-square-foot Phase II project, which just gained approval from
the city of Bloomington last week. Construction on Phase II could begin
by mid-2007.

In addition, San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants will
build an attached hotel on the south side of the mall off of Killebrew
Drive. It will be Kimpton's first property in Minnesota.

The hotel will be eight stories high with 202 rooms that will go for
$180 to $250 a night. Construction of the $40 million project, pending
city approval, is expected to take 14 to 16 months.

Mall officials said they would invest $25 million into new rides and
attractions at the Park at MOA over the next 18 months. Construction is
expected to begin next year on a Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter roller
coaster. Gerstlauer is a German designer and manufacturer of amusement
rides. The roller coaster is expected to debut in 2008.

The mall plans to fill fourth-floor space once occupied by Fat
Tuesday's and Knuckleheads with Cantina No. 1 Corona, the first
restaurant branded by Corona beer. The 13,000-square-foot restaurant
will feature Mexican food and specialty beers and is slated to open in
2007. A spokeswoman said they were targeting an open date on Cinco de
Mayo.

Two previous plans for enlarging the Mall failed to take hold. One
envisioned a so-called "hyperport," billed as an international
showplace to display new technology. More recently, mall owners floated
a casino plan that failed to get the attention of lawmakers.

-end story-


I have seen a drawing that someone sent me, though I dont know where it came from but it appears to be a slightly modifyed Euro Fighter 320+, it will wrap around at least one of the roof supports. Should be pretty neat, though 2 years off, though I suppose it could open anytime in late 07 or early 08 as they are open year round, I'd assume as soon as construction is complete it could open.

[rb1]

Good plans for MOA. I wish they have an indoor coaster in Gurnee Mills that would be a good addition to the mall.

[[jonrev]]

A small park at Gurnee Mills would be cool. It would never beat Great America but Im sure it will bring in money.

[Trailblazer Tony]

Sounds interesting, I was wondering why this park was suddenly forgotten after Timberland Twister, I guess this is why! Does anyone have any concept art or know where this thing is goin?

[RagingBullLover1543]

Yes! Another coaster I will be able to ride. Hence I'm from MN.

[FParker185]

Re: Gurnee Mills, last time I was there towards the end of SFGAm's season, there is now a carousel next to the food court at the Kohl's end of the mall.

Pretty nice looking one, want to say it's a Bertazzon but not 100% sure, very nice though.


And, here is a model of MOA's new coaster
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/9881 ... terdp1.jpg

[[jonrev]]

Re: Gurnee Mills, last time I was there towards the end of SFGAm's season, there is now a carousel next to the food court at the Kohl's end of the mall.

And, here is a model of MOA's new coaster
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/9881 ... terdp1.jpg

Yeah they set that carousel up back in August. The music on this one sucks though and I kinda wish SFGAm sold them the old Ameri-Go-Round.


The coaster at MoA looks awesome.

[w00dland]

I'm very happy about this. It means whenever I need a decent coaster I can drive an hour or so and ride this a few times during the winter.