On September 18, 1981, the 20,000-car parking lot at Canada’s West Edmonton Mall makes the Guinness Book of World Rec...

Galaxyland, the indoor theme park at West Edmonton Mall, is nearing completion of a new Nerf-themed roller-coaster, replacing the decommissioned Mindbender that operated for nearly four decades. The coaster, manufactured by Dutch company Vekoma, will feature two ride modes: a family-friendly 'Core' mode and a more thrilling 'Quantum' mode with additional inversions, twists, and higher speeds. Galaxyland admissions manager Devin Carradine explained that the design aims to allow guests to 'grow with it,' starting with the gentler Core mode and progressing to the more intense Quantum mode. The Mindbender, which opened in 1985 and was billed as the world's largest indoor triple-loop roller-coaster, closed permanently in January 2023 after 38 years of operation. Mall historian Matthew Dutczak noted that while the new coaster appears to be slightly tamer than its predecessor, it offers a choose-your-thrill experience that caters to different levels of coaster enthusiasts and families. The new coaster, sponsored by Hasbro (maker of Nerf products), is part of a series of Hasbro-themed attractions being introduced at Galaxyland, including the recently opened Monopoly Flight of Fortune and Potato Head Golden Galley. The Orbiter roller-coaster is also undergoing a Hasbro-themed renovation. Construction began last fall, but the mall has been tight-lipped about details such as height, track length, speed, and cost. A naming competition for the new coaster is planned for the coming months, with an expected opening in spring 2027. Dutczak acknowledged that the new coaster lacks the extreme G-forces of the Mindbender, which was known for its rough-and-tumble experience, but expressed enthusiasm for the coaster's innovative dual-mode design and family-friendly approach. The new coaster's launch start, unlike the Mindbender's traditional hill ascent, is expected to provide a different but still exciting ride experience. While the Mindbender was a cultural icon for Edmonton, the new Nerf-themed coaster represents a shift toward family-oriented, branded entertainment within the park. The park's sponsorship by Hasbro aligns with the company's popular Nerf brand, creating a cohesive theme across multiple attractions. The new coaster is expected to attract both local visitors and coaster enthusiasts from across Canada, continuing West Edmonton Mall's reputation as a major entertainment destination.

Scott Bessent told CNBC that Canada can't fight a trade war with a country 13 times its size, asking whether it would "take their two submarines from the Edmonton Mall and sic them on us." The mall operated four submarines from 1985 to 2005. They were broken up for scrap in 2012.

It’s important for West Edmonton Mall to fill the empty Mindbender space for the same reason why the roller coaster was added in the first place: to attract even more people to Canada’s largest mall.

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A deep dive into the history of West Edmonton Mall, one of Edmonton's biggest landmarks with world-wide recognition.