| Log Chute | |
|---|---|
 Final splashdown chute at the end of the ride | |
| Nickelodeon Universe | |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | August 11, 1992 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Log flume |
| Manufacturer | Hopkins Rides |
| Lift system | 2 conveyor belt lifts |
| Drop | 40 ft (12 m) |
| Height Restriction | 36 in (91 cm) with adult, 47 in (120 cm) alone |
Log Chute, formerly known as Paul Bunyan's Log Chute sometimes Fog Chute for Halloween[1] or Yule Log Chute for Christmas,[2] and the Love Chute for Valentine's Day[3] is a log flume attraction sponsored by Xcel Energy (formerly sponsored by Brawny) at Mall of America's Nickelodeon Universe in Bloomington, Minnesota.[4] It opened on August 11, 1992, and is one of the mall's oldest surviving acquisitions from Knott's Camp Snoopy.[5] The ride is based on the tall tale of Paul Bunyan and is set in a mountain lumber mill featuring two lift hills and two drops as passengers experience singing animatronics, including a 19-foot tall Paul Bunyan (modeled after the Brawny mascot) and Babe the Blue Ox.[6] The attraction was designed to keep riders dry enough so that they could comfortably continue shopping.[7] Holiday overlays for Halloween and Christmas have been put into place since 2017 with the "Fog Chute" and "Yule Log Chute", with the animatronic characters being dressed in festive costumes. For Halloween, Paul has been dressed as a pirate, Jim Hopper from Stranger Things, and Hulk Hogan promoting the short-lived Pastamania restaurant once housed in the mall. A 2022 April Fools Day prank had the attraction become the "Kenny Loggins Chute" with Paul being dressed as the musician.
The ride is also the site of Harmon Killebrew's 520-foot home run record at the former Metropolitan Stadium and is marked by one of the stadium's original chairs located on the wall above the ride.[8][9]
- ^ Birt, Lydia (2018-10-19). "Mall of America celebrates Halloween with Nickelodeon Boo-niverse". KARE 11. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
- ^ "The iconic Log Chute ride at Mall of America® turns into the YULE LOG CHUTE this holiday season". Meet Minneapolis. 2017-12-06. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
- ^ @NickUniverse (February 11, 2023). "Love is making a splash this Valentine's Day!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Log Chute". Nickelodeon Universe. 2014-12-09. Archived from the original on 2019-01-09. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
- ^ Terveen, Joyce (1992-08-11). "Happy campers: Mall of America's Camp Snoopy woos shoppers with fun". Argus Leader. Retrieved 2019-10-08 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Ellis, Elaine (1992-08-11). "Shopping mecca in Minnesota". The News Journal. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
- ^ Deck, Cecilia (1992-08-30). "Mall Wonder". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2019-10-08 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Stych, Ed (2011-05-18). "Killebrew's 500-ft homer seat, still at MOA". Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Archived from the original on 2011-05-23. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
- ^ Shipley, John (2011-05-16). "50 years ago today, Harmon Killebrew hit his longest home run". Twin Cities Pioneer Press. Archived from the original on 2019-07-03. Retrieved 2019-10-08.