Bloomington
The new Theatres at Mall of America^™ features comfortable high-back rocker seats, digital and 3D screens in select theatres and real buttered popcorn.  Experience the one-of-kind VIP Theatre (one of the 14 screens) with plush seating and full food and beverage service (must be at least 21). 

Mall of America also expects to introduce another major ride to its Nickelodeon Universe^™ indoor theme park in 2010. Nickelodeon Universe is the largest indoor theme park in the U.S.

New Stores at the Mall of America (within the last year and upcoming): Garage; Niketown; Columbia Sportswear; True Religion Brand Jeans; American Apparel; Best Buy; Lacoste; Levi’s; Reuhl; Cantina #1; Fredrick’s of Hollywood; and Lush

-American Girl Store at MOA
The new 20,000 square foot American Girl Store, which opened last year, islocated inside Nickelodeon Universe® welcoms visitors to find the complete assortment of the company’s popular historical and contemporary dolls, along with doll outfits, accessories, girl-sized clothing, and a variety of best-selling American Girl books. In addition, American Girl fans can treat their dolls to a new ‘do in the Doll Hair Salon and enjoy brunch, lunch, dinner, or an unforgettable dessert in the store’s fun and casual Bistro. Designed as the ultimate place to celebrate girls’ birthdays and other special occasions, the American Girl store will also feature unique party rooms where girls and their friends can enjoy American Girl-themed parties, such as the Craft or Beach Party, complete with organized games and activities, special food and cake, and party favors. A variety of girl-and-mom-friendly events will also be offered throughout the year.

Brainerd Lakes Area

Cuyuna Range Mountain Bike Trail System
There will be 30 miles of trails by the end of this summer with intermediate, beginner and challenging routes. It will spur off the existing paved trails. Currently there is .75 miles of trail that has already been accomplished this past summer for a demo track. Eventually another 10 miles will be done in year two and a total of 40 miles will be done over the next three years. There will be a total of over 80 miles of mountain bike trails when the trail system is complete. The next phase would be to make the Cuyuna Range Area a hub and then to venture out to surrounding areas (Brainerd, Aiken, etc.) in order to make it a true mountain biking destination.

Brainerd International Raceway
There is a new Performance Driving School at Brainerd International Raceway, Baxter.  The program touts “From the classroom to the track-The ultimate driving experience.” 

Grand View Lodge, Nisswa
2009 marked 90 years of hospitality at Grand View Lodge, which is marking this legacy with several new endeavors: The Gull Lake Center, Minnesota’s newest conference and events center, opened in June; The Historic Main Lodge restoration project, in which the 90 year old lodge structure has been restored to it’s original splendor, offering years of enjoyment to families for generations to come; The historic lodge rooms are newly updated and winterized; and The Northwoods Pub has been completely transformed, offering expanded lunch and dinner offerings in a casual and fun atmosphere. 

Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf / Billy Bones Raceway
Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf will be adding animated themed characters to their golf courses in Brainerd in 2009 and 2010. A tavern scene, as well as a cave scene will be updated and upgraded. At our go-cart track next door, Billy Bones Raceway, we will put finishing touches throughout the park. Shade structures will be constructed, and landscaping and other ”fine tuning” of details throughout the property will be done.

Manhattan Beach Lodge & Manhatten’s Restaurant
Whitefish Properties acquired Manhattan Beach Lodge and partnered with the Maucieri family for the restaurant side that will be called Manhattan’s. Manhattan’s is now a fine dining restaurant with food unlike anything in the Crosslake area. The lodge/restaurant will also be hosting outdoor events, beach side for approximately 100 people and wedding ceremonies beach side for approximately 250 people.

Madden’s Resort
Madden’s on Gull Lake celebrated its 80th Anniversary in 2009. The year1929 wasn’t necessarily the best year to start a business…especially as a tourist destination. The modest beginnings of Madden’s Resort were just coming together when the stock market crashed. The story of what became Madden’s on Gull Lake is one of continual growth and family tradition.  Now in the third generation of Madden family ownership, history is continually being written with each new season of ‘Minnesota’s Classic Resort’.  Starting in 1929 as a jazz-age vision of a recreational retreat on the Pine Beach Peninsula of Minnesota’s Gull Lake, the same attention to the comfort, entertainment and satisfaction of Madden’s guests endures.     

Duluth area
Bentleyville “Tour of Lights” is coming to Duluth’s Bayfront Festival Park November 27, 2009 thru January 2, 2010.   See all the wonderful attributes that makes Bentleyville special.  Santa will visit children every day from Saturday, November 28 – Wednesday December 23rd. Children 10 and younger will receive the Bentleyville Tour of Lights knit hat from Santa along with a bag of cookies.  Free hot beverages and cookies will be served from the Cookie House, popcorn will be served free of charge from the Pop Corn Box and marshmallows can be picked up at the Marshmallow Hut and roasted at any one of 15 fire pits. The large venue at Bayfront Festival Park will allow for a grand light display, more fire pits for roasting marshmallows, a completely handicapped accessible display with more parking for the disabled. Regional music groups will perform every Friday & Saturday night from 7- 9 pm.

Open daily 5 – 10 pm for 37 days starting November 27, 2009 – January 2, 2010.  So come join us and stroll through Bentleyville’s holiday light display at Bayfront Festival Park. Enjoy the sounds of the holiday season and watch the faces of children light up with excitement!

Gunflint Trail
Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center – opening July 4, 2010
The Gunflint Trail Historical Society and USDA Forest Service have created a partnership which preserves historic Chik-Wauk Lodge at the end of the Gunflint Trail.  The museum includes exhibits representing the natural world surrounding the Gunflint Trail and the history of people on the  Gunflint Trail.  The surrounding 50 acres contains hiking trails,  including one ADA trail, are representative of the terrain of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. 

Moorhead area

Trollwood Performing Arts School has built a new outdoor theatre complex in Moorhead, MN.      

Fargo Theatre will be completing an addition to the historic theatre in downtown Fargo, ND.  314 Broadway / P.O. Box 2190 Fargo, North Dakota 58102  (701) 239-8385; info@fargotheatre.org.  

Winona area
The MN Marine Art Museum has completed an expansion with an additional 6,850 square feet of space to include a new gallery, multi-purpose room and new storage area.  Additional parking and landscaping are included in the project. 

The Winona County Historical Museum is in the midst of a capital campaign to raise funds to add 12,000 square feet of space.  Remodeling will provide exhibit space for traveling exhibits and WCHS artifact collections.  New sections of the facility will be built as energy efficient and environmentally friendly.  Target date for opening is 2010 when the County Historical Society celebrates its 75th Anniversary.

A German craft beer brewery opened spring 2009 in the old Bub’s Brewery (currently houses Sugar Loaf Antiques & Crafts which will move into the building next door).