Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Good grief. <a href="http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tnews/NewsItemDisplay.php3?Tip_AttrId=12439" target="_blank">http://www.roadsideamerica.com /tnews/NewsItemDisplay.php3?Tip_AttrId=12439</a> >>Theme Park Loses Its Theme "Camp Snoopy," the seven-acre indoor amusement park that for years has occupied the hub of the vast Mall of America in Minneapolis-St. Paul, is no more. The park is still there, as are its indoor roller coaster and other rides. But Snoopy and his fellow Peanuts characters, who populated the park as large fiberglass sculptures and as signs -- and, of course, gave the park its name -- have left the building. According to a report in the Minneapolis Daily Tribune, the company that owns the rights to the Peanuts characters ended its relationship with the Mall on January 19. It wants to use the Peanuts characters exclusively in its own amusement parks. Charles Schulz, who created and drew Peanuts, was a St. Paul native. But he is dead and business is business. Until the Mall can find a new, wacky, lovable, unthreatening theme -- Beetle Bailey? Hi and Lois? -- the amusement park will be known by the unamusing name, "The Park at MOA." [02/26/2006]<<
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I still like my idea of a Calvin and Hobbes backyard woods. Perhaps they could do something with a Paul Bunyan theme?
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>Perhaps they could do something with a Paul Bunyan theme?<< I'm glad you axed. aaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! But seriously, that is a good idea, Trekkeruss. I'm not familiar with how much room the former Camp Snoop has at Mall fo America. Is it about the same size as the Camp Snoopy at Knott's in Buena Park? If it has a forest-sort of look already, should be pretty easy to re-theme into a Paul Bunyan theme.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I've only been to the MoA once (last year.) I have no idea how it compares in size to the one at KBF, as I have never set foot in Camp Snoopy there. The park inside MoA does have trees, and even has a log flume ride.
Originally Posted By BlueDevilSF I have no idea how the former Camp Snoopy compares to KBF version, but I do know that it is the largest indoor amusement park. (Well, this is according to MOA management, anyway, so I won't confirm it as fact.) I was sort of sad to see the Peanuts identity leave the park. They even took out the Snoopy Store. In the 1.5 years I've been in MN, I've only been through the park but never on any of the rides. It was always packed on the weekends. On another sort of related note, I highly recommend visiting the Schulz Museum if you happen to be in the SF Bay Area. It is very, very cool.
Originally Posted By jazma Yes, this is kind of old news...I believe it was announced last year, though others (including myself) speculated such a year ago. The MOA CS is a bit different than the one at Knott's (and other Cedar Fair parks.) It is kind of like Fiesta Village and CS mixed together. It has a ride similar to Jaguar at Knott's, a real flume ride with animatronics (a Paul Bunyan theme as previously mentioned), and a falling star ride, in addition to a decent dark ride and 3D motion simulator. It was originally operated by management contract by KBF and was Knott's Camp Snoopy, however a couple of years ago it just became Camp Snoopy. When I went two years ago, they still had some old merchandise with Knott's on it, but most was just generic CS stuff. As most of you know, CF has added a CS to most of their parks: Cedar Point, Worlds of Fun, Dorney Park. Valleyfair in MN, about 30 minutes from MOA does not, and I am sure it will be added in the near future. It makes sense: they can reap more money on merchandise sales at their own branded park and grow attendance at the same time. The only other two CF parks without a Camp Snoopy are Michigan's Adventure and Geauga Lake, both relatively recent acquisitions, and they have a Peanuts Gang presence already, along with a Snoopy store, even if there is not (yet) a proper Camp Snoopy.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Living in the Mpls. - St. Paul area, I visit MOA about twice a year. I've gone to Camp Snoopy maybe once or twice since the Mall opened. The attractions seem targeted to the 12 and under set so there isn't much to interest adults. If I'm in the mood for some non-Disney theme park entertainment I head for Valley Fair in Shakopee. It isn't Disney, but it isn't bad either. I hate to see the Snoopy theme leave the MOA park. Since we are the "home" of Snoopy, it just doesn't seem right without him.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Oh man! I just heard the Spillikin Corners is no longer at Six Flags Magic Mountain!
Originally Posted By JeffG Does Valley Fair have a Camp Snoopy section, RoadTrip? I know it is owned by Cedar Fair as well. I believe what actually happened with the Mall of America park was that Cedar Fair didn't renew their management contract for the park. Since they have exclusive theme park rights to the Peanuts characters, those rights went away as well. -Jeff
Originally Posted By RoadTrip No, Valleyfair's kid's section is called KidWorks. They used to a have kid’s section themed using the Berenstein Bears, but that was changed several years ago. Maybe Cedar Fair no longer feels it is worthwhile to pay for the rights and is dropping the contracts when they come up for renewal.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip ^^^ OK... how did I manage to do THAT??? Should be: No, Valleyfair's kid's section is called KidWorks. They used to have a kid’s section themed using the Berenstein Bears, but that was changed several years ago.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper ValleyFair didn't have a Camp Snoopy because there was won about 30 minutes away in the Mall of America. I would be flabergasted if VF didn't get a Camp Snoopy in the next couple of years. Snoopy and Peanuts are used heavily at the parks that have them. I don't see that relationship souring anytime soon.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I think a Paul Bunyan theme would work really well. It is very woodsy looking (at least for being inside) and already has the log flume with the theme. It would be a neat way to tie something specifically Minnesota into the area, and would be very unique. On an unrelated note, about a week ago I found a picture from the log flume. I remember being a little frightened of it when I was little, but this picture is hillarious. I had been losing teeth at that point, so there are only a few in my mouth, and it is open. I have a look on my face like there is somebody standing behing the camera with a bloody axe, who says that I will be next. And to make it even better, everybody else in the log is smiling, having a grand old time!
Originally Posted By jazma Not so JeffG. CF wanted to keep the management contract, the mall did not. However, the mall assumed they could not have CF and still keep the Peanuts theme. You can guess who won. CF will reap more dividends having the characters as part of Valleyfair!, then at MOA anyhow. So it's a win-win for them. I can see it now..."In 2007, Valleyfair! welcomes the return of Minnesota's favorite gang..."
Originally Posted By StitchMom84 Having been part of the tribute to Charles Schulz that St Paul sponsored from 2000-2004, I was extremely sad to see the "Peanuts" partnership end at the MOA. Especially just as my grandaughter was just getting old enough to enjoy it. She loves "Soopy" and "Woocie" so much. My neighbor works at the MOA now (I did back when it first opened up ) and of course, there is much speculation as to what new "branding" will be coming for the park. Hope it is something colorful and fun like the Peanuts gang was. That is an interesting point, jazma, about the Peanuts gang coming to Valleyfair in the future! I'll have to admit that hadn't occured to me. I know that there was also a sticking point in the "negotiations" with the MOA about how,and in what areas, the MOA could advertise using the "Camp Snoopy" name. Oh, well, it's all too complicated..leave it to Corporate America to take the fun out of a place that is supposed to be fun!!
