A financing plan that includes private loans and a tax subsidy could pay for the Mystery Cove water park, which is slated to open in 2029.
By Eva Herscowitz
The Minnesota Star Tribune
October 1, 2025 at 1:58AM
A nighttime rendering of the planned Mystery Cove water park at the Mall of America.
Bloomington benefits
For months, city leaders have touted the benefits the Mystery Cove water park could bring to Bloomington, including 700,000 annual visitors and millions in tax revenue.
Mall leaders, meanwhile, are optimistic that the amenity will produce profits they can invest in other projects. Ideas include an athletic facility, exhibit hall and sports medicine space.
“We’ve been talking about those about as long as we’ve been talking about a water park,” Hagen said at a September meeting. “But we’ve never had a funding source to move them forward.”
A portion of the water park’s profits could also be used to boost affordable housing and climate resiliency projects in the city.
about the writer
Eva Herscowitz
Reporter
Eva Herscowitz covers Dakota and Scott counties for the Star Tribune.
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