The Mall of America water park is still a project, not a ticketed attraction
Mystery Cove Waterpark is the long-planned indoor water park associated with Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. The current concept calls for a large pool hall, about 30 slides and rides, a wave pool, lazy river, family splash area and a retractable roof—but visitors cannot buy Mystery Cove admission today.
This page separates the current plan from years of older renderings, projected ticket prices and outdated opening dates. Use it to check the 2026 project status, planned location, hotel question, construction timeline and the current 2029 opening target without mistaking a proposal for an operating water park.
Mall of America water park 2026: fast answer
No, Mystery Cove is not an operating Mall of America water park in 2026. Current Bloomington project material describes a planned indoor attraction adjacent to Mall of America, while the latest public planning timeline has used 2029 as the anticipated completion/opening target. There is currently no verified Mystery Cove ticket page, admission price, operating calendar or hotel-and-waterpark package to book.
Choose the answer that matches what you searched
Trying to visit now?
Do not buy a third-party “Mall of America water park ticket.” Mystery Cove does not have a verified public admission sale in 2026.
Tracking whether it is actually being built?
Use Bloomington project and Port Authority updates, not an old anticipated construction date or rendering.
Looking for a water park hotel?
The current Mystery Cove plan is a public attraction rather than a hotel-only waterpark resort. No Mystery Cove room package exists yet.
Planning a future trip?
Use 2029 only as the current planning target. Wait for a confirmed opening announcement before building flights or hotel stays around it.
Mall of America water park project status in 2026
The most important distinction is between a project moving through financing/design steps and a water park that is open to guests. Mystery Cove remains in the first category based on the current public information reviewed for this update.
Mall of America water park tickets: there is nothing legitimate to buy yet
Mystery Cove ticket price
No current public price. The operating park does not exist yet, so there is no trustworthy 2026 adult, child, resident, day-pass or season-pass price.
Older prices in search results
You may find historical market-study estimates in older articles. Those numbers predate the current scaled-back project and are not an official ticket offer.
Bloomington resident discount
Earlier city planning material has discussed discounted admission for Bloomington residents, but no live discount program can exist until the park has final pricing and ticket sales.
Mall of America water park opening date: why 2029 is a target, not a promise
Completion / opening in 2029
City staff materials associated with the current concept used 2029 as the anticipated completion and opening year.
No confirmed public opening day
A target year is different from an announced opening date such as “June 15, 2029.” No such verified public day has been established here.
COVID, costs and financing
The project has already experienced pandemic disruption, higher construction costs, increased interest rates and multiple financing revisions.
Mall of America water park construction: what has actually been verified
The project has repeatedly reached “could begin construction” stages over the years. That makes construction language especially important: anticipated start, approved financing, completed design and physical groundbreaking are not interchangeable.
2025 staff timeline
The project schedule presented to Bloomington officials anticipated design and entitlement work into early 2026, followed by a 2026 construction start.
Financing progress
Private financing term sheets and public TIF support moved the project substantially closer than earlier stalled versions.
2026 verification rule
This update does not label Mystery Cove “under construction” without a newer official source clearly confirming physical construction or groundbreaking.
Current Mall of America water park plans at a glance
The latest publicly described Mystery Cove version is smaller than older concepts but still planned as a major year-round indoor attraction. It is designed for up to roughly 3,000 guests and projected to attract hundreds of thousands of visits annually.
Wave pool
A major wave pool remains one of the central planned water attractions.
Lazy river
A circulating lazy-river attraction remains part of the current project description.
Family splash pad
A dedicated family/children splash zone is included in the latest project materials.
About 30 slides and rides
The current concept uses an approximately 30-attraction count rather than a finalized public ride roster.
Additional pools and spas
The plans include more aquatic spaces beyond the wave pool and lazy river.
Food and beverage areas
The project description includes themed food and beverage offerings inside the attraction.
Cabanas and daybeds
Reserved or premium relaxation space is part of the current concept.
Retractable roof
A retractable roof is intended to create more open-air feeling during suitable Minnesota weather.
Skyway + parking + transit
Current plans connect the attraction to the larger MOA destination through a skyway, new parking and existing transit access.
What is Mystery Cove at Mall of America?
Mystery Cove is the project name used for the planned Mall of America indoor water park. Earlier creative material presented a much more detailed adventure-style themed concept, which is why search results may show elaborate tropical environments, exploration themes and older attraction layouts.
The name is still relevant
Current Bloomington project materials continue to refer to the project as Mystery Cove, so the name is useful for following official financing and development updates.
Old renderings may not be final
The water park has been redesigned and reduced in scale. Treat old zone maps, themed story details and very large renderings as concept history unless they appear again in current construction documents.
Mall of America water park location: where Mystery Cove is planned
Current information places Mystery Cove in Bloomington, Minnesota, adjacent to Mall of America in the South Loop area. Bloomington tourism information describes the planned site on the north side of the Mall property.
Not inside the existing mall atrium
The concept is a substantial new building associated with the MOA campus rather than a conversion of an existing indoor mall attraction.
Planned skyway connection
Current project materials call for a skyway connection so visitors can move between Mystery Cove and the broader Mall of America complex.
Transit-oriented location
The plan highlights existing Mall of America Transit Station connections, including regional light rail and bus service.
Mall of America water park hotel: will you need to book a room?
The current Mystery Cove plan is not described as a hotel-guest-only water park. The City of Bloomington specifically describes the proposed attraction as open to the public and expects it to create additional demand for surrounding hotel rooms.
Public admission concept
The plan is for visitors and local residents to be able to use the water park, rather than requiring an overnight resort stay.
No Mystery Cove room package yet
Because the park is not open, there is no legitimate “hotel + Mystery Cove tickets” package to book today.
Future trip planning
When the park eventually opens, compare public day admission against any hotel bundles only after official prices and access rules are available.
How Mystery Cove fits the Mall of America expansion strategy
Mystery Cove is not an expansion of an existing MOA water park. It is a new water park project intended to broaden Mall of America’s entertainment mix and give travelers another reason to stay longer in Bloomington.
More than retail
Mall of America’s development strategy increasingly relies on attractions, restaurants, hotels and experiences alongside traditional retail.
Tourism driver
Bloomington officials expect a large indoor water park to generate substantial annual attendance and support hotels, restaurants and visitor spending.
South Loop infrastructure
The project includes more than the pool hall itself; parking, skyway and other infrastructure are part of the broader development cost.
Mall of America water park project timeline: why it has taken so long
Water park idea exists from the mall’s early planning era
Triple Five had long considered a large indoor water park as part of the broader Mall of America destination concept.
Bloomington and Triple Five begin serious project work
City Council and Port Authority discussions moved into financing, ownership, development and feasibility work.
Zoning and entitlement work advances
The City approved zoning and entitlement steps needed for a future water park development.
Pandemic puts the project on hold
The prior financing and development path stalled during COVID-19.
Private-financing path takes shape
Bloomington and Triple Five explored a model using private financing alongside tax increment financing and public infrastructure support.
Interest rates and construction costs create another stall
Higher borrowing and building costs made the then-current version difficult to finance.
Smaller Mystery Cove design returns
The revised plan reduced the footprint and focused on a roughly 144,000-square-foot pool hall inside a roughly 220,000-square-foot building envelope.
Financing and TIF timeline move forward
Private lender terms, revised public financing and an extension allowing spending-plan TIF through the end of 2027 moved the project closer to a buildable stage.
Construction was targeted, but status still requires verification
Earlier staff materials anticipated a 2026 construction start. This guide does not turn that forecast into a confirmed groundbreaking without a newer official construction notice.
Anticipated completion and opening
Use 2029 as the current planning target, not as a guaranteed opening year until the project publishes a confirmed schedule.
Why old Mall of America water park plans do not match today’s Mystery Cove
Much larger water park vision
- Earlier versions were frequently described around 320,000–360,000 square feet.
- Some concepts included two wave pools and a more expansive attraction program.
- Detailed tropical/themed zone art circulated widely online.
- Older articles used opening targets that have already passed.
- Historical admission projections appeared before the current redesign.
Smaller, finance-focused Mystery Cove
- Roughly 144,000-square-foot pool hall.
- Roughly 220,000-square-foot overall building envelope.
- About 30 planned slides and rides.
- One major wave pool, lazy river and family splash pad.
- Retractable roof, pools/spas, cabanas and food areas.
- Current project timeline points toward 2029.
How to check whether the Mall of America water park is finally ready to visit
Check the City of Bloomington project page first
Look for redevelopment-agreement approval, financing closing, site work, construction milestones and updated public timelines.
Look for a verified groundbreaking or construction announcement
A sentence saying construction “could” or “is expected to” start is still a forecast. Look for wording confirming that physical work has begun.
Wait for a confirmed Mall of America / Mystery Cove opening announcement
Do not book a 2029 trip around the water park based only on a target year. A useful opening announcement should give a real season, month or date.
Verify an official ticket page before paying anyone
A real on-sale page should identify Mystery Cove, admission type, date, price, taxes/fees, refund terms and who operates the checkout.
Only then connect hotel, airfare and Mall of America plans
Once the park is confirmed open, compare day-ticket value, hotel packages, parking, skyway access and other MOA attractions as one trip.
Official and primary pages for future Mystery Cove updates
The project’s financing, schedule and construction status can change. These are the pages to recheck before changing this article from “planned” to “under construction” or “opening soon.”
Mall of America water park FAQs
Is there a water park open at Mall of America in 2026?
No. Mystery Cove is a planned indoor water park project associated with Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. Current public project information does not show the park operating or selling admission in 2026.
Can I buy Mall of America water park tickets now?
No official Mystery Cove ticket sale is currently available. If you see a price in an older article, treat it as a historical estimate rather than a current admission price. Mall of America tickets for other attractions are separate products.
What is the Mall of America water park opening date?
Current project materials use 2029 as the anticipated completion and opening target. It is not yet a guaranteed public opening date, so do not book nonrefundable travel solely around that year.
Has construction started on the Mall of America water park?
City staff materials anticipated a 2026 construction start, but an anticipated start does not automatically mean a groundbreaking happened. This guide requires a newer official construction confirmation before labeling Mystery Cove actively under construction.
Is Mystery Cove the Mall of America water park?
Yes. Mystery Cove is the project name used for the planned indoor water park associated with Mall of America. Searching both names can help you find official project and financing updates.
Where will the Mall of America water park be located?
Current information places the project adjacent to Mall of America in Bloomington’s South Loop area, with tourism information describing the planned site on the north side of the Mall property. Current plans include a skyway, new parking structure and connections to existing Mall of America transit services.
Will Mystery Cove be a Mall of America water park hotel?
The current project is described as a public water park attraction rather than a hotel-only resort water park. Bloomington expects it to generate additional demand for surrounding hotel rooms, but there is no Mystery Cove hotel-and-ticket package to buy while the attraction remains unopened.
What attractions are planned for Mystery Cove?
The current project description includes a wave pool, lazy river, family splash pad, about 30 slides and rides, additional pools and spas, thematic food and beverage areas, cabanas and daybeds, a retractable roof and operable facade windows.
How big will the Mall of America water park be?
The current version is described at roughly 144,000 square feet for the pool hall inside a roughly 220,000-square-foot building envelope. This is smaller than older Mystery Cove concepts, which is why older articles may contain much larger numbers.
Why do Mall of America water park articles show different opening dates and sizes?
Mystery Cove has gone through multiple design and financing phases. The pandemic, construction-cost increases and higher interest rates caused delays, and the project was later redesigned with a smaller footprint. Older opening years, project sizes and ticket estimates should not be mixed with the current plan.