Closed Minnesota Amusement Parks That Once Lit Up The Summers
Minnesota’s summer nights once glowed with the lights of thrilling amusement parks that brought families together for unforgettable adventures.
From towering Ferris wheels to screaming roller coasters, these magical places created memories that still spark nostalgia in those who visited them.
Though these parks have closed their gates forever, their stories remain an important part of Minnesota’s entertainment history.
1. Wonderland Amusement Park
When you picture a beacon tower stretching 120 feet into the sky, visible from five miles away, you’re imagining the crown jewel of Wonderland. Operating from 1905 to 1911 in Minneapolis’ Longfellow neighborhood, this park drew crowds with its impressive architecture and thrilling attractions. Families flocked to ride the scenic railway, which was really an early roller coaster that twisted and turned through the grounds.
The carousel spun children around in circles while the old mill offered romantic boat rides. A quirky house of nonsense kept visitors laughing with its optical illusions and silly surprises.
After the park closed, some rides found new homes at Excelsior Amusement Park, keeping the magic alive a bit longer.
2. Excelsior Amusement Park
If you lived anywhere near Lake Minnetonka between 1925 and 1973, chances are you spent at least one magical summer day at Excelsior. The park’s Cyclone roller coaster was legendary, sending riders screaming through loops and drops that made their stomachs flip. Beyond the coaster, bumper cars let kids crash into each other while parents watched from the sidelines with cotton candy in hand.
Music lovers remember when The Rolling Stones and Lawrence Welk performed at this lakeside paradise. Boat rides offered peaceful escapes on the water, and the fun house kept everyone giggling. Today, condominiums and Maynard’s Restaurant stand where the Ferris wheel once turned against the sunset sky.
3. Wildwood Amusement Park
Did you know that Wildwood started welcoming visitors way back in 1889? Located on the southeast shore of White Bear Lake in Mahtomedi, it became the perfect summer escape for families seeking cool breezes and entertainment. The carousel horses bobbed up and down as organ music filled the air, creating a soundtrack that echoed across the water.
Nationally famous bands and orchestras played at the dance hall pavilion, drawing couples who danced until their feet hurt. Picnic grounds offered shady spots for families to spread blankets and enjoy homemade lunches between rides.
The fun house twisted reality with mirrors and moving floors that challenged your balance and made you question everything you saw.
4. Fairyland Park
Imagine stepping into your favorite storybook, where fairy tales came alive all around you. That’s exactly what Fairyland Park offered Minneapolis residents from 1913 to 1977, making it one of the longest-running amusement parks in the state. The storybook theme made every corner feel magical, with characters and scenes that transported you to faraway lands where anything seemed possible.
Children begged their parents for just one more ride on the beautifully painted carousel. The Ferris wheel lifted families high above the park, offering bird’s-eye views of the enchanted landscape below.
Inside the funhouse, mirrors distorted your reflection and unexpected surprises waited around every corner, creating laughter that parents still remember decades later.
5. Water Park of America
It’s hard to believe that America’s tallest indoor water slide once stood right here in Bloomington. Opening in 2006 and attached to the Radisson Hotel, Water Park of America brought tropical paradise to Minnesota winters, letting families splash around while snow fell outside. The massive indoor facility stayed warm and humid year-round, creating a permanent summer escape that felt almost surreal during January blizzards.
Kids raced down twisting slides that seemed to defy gravity, splashing into pools at the bottom with huge grins. Wave pools created artificial ocean experiences, complete with surfable swells that challenged even experienced swimmers.
Though it closed in 2017 and became a Great Wolf Lodge, many families still treasure memories of birthday parties and weekend getaways spent conquering those record-breaking slides.
6. Kiddieland Amusement Park
How perfect was a place designed entirely for the youngest thrill-seekers? Kiddieland parks popped up across Minnesota during the mid-20th century, offering scaled-down versions of big-park attractions that didn’t overwhelm little ones. Tiny trains chugged along short tracks, giving toddlers their first taste of adventure without the scary speeds of adult rides.
Parents could actually relax while watching their children navigate miniature cars around simple tracks. The merry-go-rounds moved slowly enough that even the most cautious kids felt brave climbing aboard.
Everything from the ticket booth to the snack stand was built at a child-friendly scale, making young visitors feel like giants in their own special kingdom where they ruled the rides and called all the shots.
7. Big Island Amusement Park
Are you ready to hear about an amusement park you could only reach by boat? Big Island, located on Lake Minnetonka, required visitors to take a steamboat ride just to arrive at the fun. Operating in the early 1900s, this unique location made every visit feel like an exotic adventure before you even stepped foot on the first ride.
The dance pavilion drew crowds from all around the lake, with orchestras playing late into warm summer nights.
Wooden piers stretched into the water, where boats bobbed gently while families explored the island’s attractions. The isolation created a special atmosphere where everyday worries seemed to float away with the lake breezes, replaced by pure joy and the simple pleasure of being somewhere extraordinary.
8. Como Park Amusement Area
Though Como Park is still famous for its zoo and conservatory, many people forget it once featured its own amusement area. Located in Saint Paul, this smaller attraction zone offered simple pleasures that didn’t require traveling to bigger parks across the Twin Cities. The rides were modest compared to major amusement parks, but they provided just enough excitement for a perfect afternoon outing after visiting the animals.
A small Ferris wheel gave riders views of the beautiful park landscape and nearby lake. Kiddie rides kept younger children entertained while parents enjoyed the natural surroundings and fresh air.
The combination of nature and amusement made Como Park special, offering something for everyone in one convenient location that felt more like a community gathering spot than a commercial enterprise.
9. White Bear Lake Amusement Area
It’s no secret that White Bear Lake was Minnesota’s summer playground for generations. Beyond Wildwood, several smaller amusement operations dotted the shoreline throughout the decades, offering everything from arcade games to small rides. The lakeside location meant you could swim in the morning, ride attractions in the afternoon, and watch the sunset from a Ferris wheel by evening.
Boardwalk-style setups featured games of chance where you could win stuffed animals and other prizes. Ring toss, balloon darts, and milk bottle throws separated kids from their allowance money faster than anything else.
The smell of popcorn and hot dogs mixed with lake water and sunscreen created a unique scent that instantly transported you to summer vacation mode, even if you only lived twenty minutes away and visited every weekend.
10. Paul Bunyan Center
Did Paul Bunyan himself ever invite you to visit his amusement park? In Brainerd, the Paul Bunyan Center featured a massive animated statue that talked to visitors, creating an experience that amazed children and adults alike. Operating during the peak roadside attraction era, this park capitalized on Minnesota’s logging heritage and tall-tale traditions to create something uniquely Minnesotan that you couldn’t find anywhere else in the country.
Log-themed rides and attractions reinforced the lumberjack atmosphere throughout the property. Families traveling Highway 371 would stop for a few hours of entertainment before continuing to lake cabins up north.
The talking Paul Bunyan used early technology to personalize greetings, somehow knowing children’s names and hometowns in a way that seemed truly magical before everyone understood how the trick actually worked.
11. Fun-O-Rama Park
When roadside attractions ruled American highways, Fun-O-Rama represented the scrappy, independent spirit of small-town entertainment. This modest operation didn’t try to compete with big-city parks, instead offering simple pleasures at prices that made sense for rural families. The name itself screams vintage Americana, capturing that optimistic, exclamation-point enthusiasm that defined mid-century leisure marketing across the entire United States.
A handful of rides provided just enough variety to keep kids happy for an afternoon. Game booths lined walkways, tempting players with prizes that always seemed just barely out of reach no matter how skilled you were.
The park’s small size meant parents could keep track of children easily while still giving them freedom to explore independently, creating a safe environment that fostered confidence and adventure in equal measure.
12. Treasure Island Amusement Area
Before becoming a major resort and casino, Treasure Island started as something quite different. The pirate theme attracted families looking for adventure without the danger, offering treasure hunts and themed attractions that sparked imaginations. Children pretended to be swashbucklers searching for gold while parents enjoyed the creative atmosphere that transformed an ordinary Minnesota location into something that felt exotic and far away from everyday responsibilities.
Small rides fit the nautical theme, with ships and sea creatures decorating everything from ticket booths to trash cans. The commitment to theming made even simple attractions feel special and cohesive.
As times changed and gambling became legal, the family-friendly amusement area gradually transformed into the adult-oriented casino complex that stands today, leaving only memories of when treasure meant stuffed parrots won at game booths rather than slot machine jackpots.
13. Happy Hollow Park
Sometimes the best memories come from the smallest places. Happy Hollow Park represented neighborhood amusement at its most basic and beloved, offering just enough to entertain without overwhelming anyone. The name evokes a simpler time when entertainment didn’t require expensive tickets or elaborate theming, just some swings, slides, and maybe a merry-go-round that squeaked as it spun children around in dizzying circles.
Local families knew every inch of Happy Hollow, returning summer after summer until the equipment became like old friends. Picnic areas hosted birthday parties and family reunions where multiple generations gathered under shade trees.
The park’s closure hit the community hard because it represented more than just rides and games; it symbolized childhood itself for everyone who grew up within walking or biking distance of those beloved grounds.
14. Cascade Bay Water Park
Are outdoor water parks better than indoor ones? Cascade Bay certainly made a strong argument, offering Minnesota families a seasonal splash zone that operated during those precious warm months when everyone wanted to be outside. The outdoor setting meant you could sunbathe between rides, getting an actual tan while enjoying the attractions. Wave pools created artificial ocean experiences that felt surprisingly realistic, especially for kids who had never actually visited a real beach.
Lazy rivers provided relaxation for exhausted parents who needed a break from more intense slides. The park’s closure left a gap in Minnesota’s summer entertainment options, forcing families to travel farther for similar experiences.
Many remember Cascade Bay fondly as the perfect place to cool off during heat waves, where the combination of water, sunshine, and laughter created the quintessential summer day that everyone dreams about during long, cold Minnesota winters.
