Nickelodeon Universe Mall of America

#### Camp Snoopy

The park was originally known as **Knott's 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 Cedar Point and Knott's Berry Farm, also owned by Cedar Fair. Camp Snoopy was never aggressively themed; the park had a very outdoors and woodsy feel with more subtle references to the *Peanuts* franchise. Much of the original theming in the Camp Snoopy fountain and all around the park was 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 includes 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, Snoopy Bouncer, the Snoopy Shop 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. It incorporated 17,385 square feet (1,615.1 m2) and served children ages six weeks to twelve years until its removal in 2007. It is now the "Dutchman’s Deck Adventure Course" ropes course, slides and zip line.

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 Mall Of America

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 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, although the gift shops were allowed to continue selling *Peanuts* merchandise without the Camp Snoopy label. 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.

#### Nickelodeon Universe

On November 2, 2005, Viacom filed a trademark for **Nickelodeon Universe**. The park's new licensing deal and name, "Nickelodeon Universe", was announced on July 25, 2007. Construction began on August 27, 2007, work was completed in sections so 80 percent to 90 percent of the park remained accessible at all times. Nickelodeon Universe was completed on March 15, 2008. 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, the Avatar Airbender, a surf-rider attraction located in the center of the park as well and Brain Surge which is on the side of the park. The shooting gallery beneath the Ripsaw/Orange Streak roller coaster was gutted and was replaced by Rugrats Reptarmobiles. The Mystery Mine Ride was completely demolished to make way for SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge. This site also included an Old Time Photography studio and restrooms. Old Time Photography relocated into the mall (but not within the park) 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 was called EATS and was located in the former Park at MOA food court. When the partnership ended, the EATS area closed and was replaced with a butterfly display. In 2014, a Hard Rock Cafe opened on the site where EATS once stood.

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 had remained $99 per year since the park opened in 1992, would increase to $250, and daily wristbands would be raised from $24.95 to $29.95. They eventually rose to $32.99 in 2014. In 2017, prices rose to where they currently stand, at $35.99 for a daily wristband. In April 2015, the price for the annual pass dropped to $139. Some decreed the price increases as being unjustifiably high when compared to other parks, such as 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.

### Rides and attractions

#### Thrill rides

 **Shredder's Mutant Masher** | 2015
 Splat-O-Sphere
 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shell Shock

### Dining

* Caribou Coffee
* Grub
* Sweet Treats
* Hard Rock Cafe
* Various carts featuring popcorn, mini donuts, cotton candy, Dippin Dots ice cream, Pepsi beverages and ICEE beverages

#### Former dining

* Tall Timbers
* Stampede Steakhouse
* Mrs. Knott's Restaurant
* Mrs. Knott's Picnic Basket
* The Silver Stein-Festhaus
* Festhaus Buffet
* Hormel Cook Out
* McGarvey Camp Bakery
* EATS
* Cool Treats
* Schwan's Ice Cream Cafe (replaced by Sweet Treats)
* Slurp and Snack (replaced by Grub)

### Retail

* American Girl
* Nickelodeon Store
* Toys
* Gear
* LEGO Store

#### Former retail

* 4U (Replaced by Peeps & Company, which eventually closed and became the mall's second IT'SUGAR location called "Candy Universe". This IT'SUGAR location is now closed.)
* NU Stuff  (replaced by Gear)
* Candy Universe (operated by IT'SUGAR)

### Accidents

* On August 3, 1998, a 12-year-old boy, David Martin, was killed after he fell off the Log Chute. When the boat neared the top of the chute, he began to panic and reached outside of the log to grab a railing. The ride stopped, but the log had already begun its descent down the major drop. Losing his grip, Martin fell off the chute, falling onto the landscaping rocks. He then died as a result of his injuries. O.D. Hopkins Associates, Inc., the manufacturer of the ride, inspected it and found it was in proper working order. It was Camp Snoopy's first fatal accident.

**Shopping Malls**
*The Block*: The Block at Orange | The Block at the Source | Broadway at the Beach - The Block
*The Dreams*: Madrid Xanadu | Meadowlands Xanadu | Desti**ny** USA

**Landmark Entertainment**
*Landmark Retailing*: Nickelodeon Store | Paramount Store | Club Libby Lu
*Former Ventures*: NFL GridIron Grill