Crayola Experience | Bloomington

Information

Landmark: Crayola Experience
City: Bloomington
Country: USA Minnesota
Continent: North America

Crayola Experience, Bloomington, USA Minnesota, North America

The Crayola Experience is an interactive attraction located in Bloomington, Minnesota, USA. It offers a variety of hands-on activities centered around the Crayola brand of art supplies.

Visual Characteristics

The interior of the Crayola Experience is designed with bright, primary colors. Walls are often painted in bold reds, blues, and yellows. The space is divided into distinct activity zones, each with its own thematic color scheme and interactive displays. Flooring is typically durable and easy to clean, often a mix of linoleum and carpet tiles. Lighting is generally bright and even throughout the facility.

Location & Access Logistics

The Crayola Experience is situated within the Mall of America, located at 2901 Center Court, Bloomington, MN 55425. It is accessible via Interstate 35W and Minnesota State Highway 77. Ample parking is available within the Mall of America's parking garages, with specific entrances recommended for mall access. Public transportation options include Metro Transit bus routes 515 and 540, which stop at the Mall of America transit station. The attraction is located on the second floor of the mall.

Historical & Ecological Origin

The Crayola Experience concept was developed by Crayola, a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards. The first location opened in Easton, Pennsylvania, in 1996. The Bloomington location opened in 2011 as part of the Mall of America's expansion. The facility is an indoor entertainment venue, not a natural site, and its origin is rooted in the commercial development of interactive family attractions.

Key Highlights & Activities

Activities include a "Melt & Mold" station where visitors can create custom crayon shapes, a "Scribble Tree" for large-scale drawing, and a "Crayon Factory" demonstration showing how crayons are made. Other stations involve digital coloring, a "Melting Pot" where melted crayons are used to create art, and a "Wrap It Up" activity where visitors can design their own crayon wrapper. There is also a play area with large crayon-themed structures.

Infrastructure & Amenities

Restrooms are available within the Crayola Experience and throughout the Mall of America. Shaded areas are plentiful within the mall environment. Cell phone signal (4G/5G) is generally strong within the Mall of America. Food vendors and dining options are abundant within the Mall of America, located adjacent to the attraction.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit is typically on weekdays outside of school holidays and summer breaks to avoid peak crowds. Mornings, shortly after opening, offer lower attendance. The attraction is indoors, so weather is not a significant factor for visiting hours, though mall access can be affected by severe winter weather.

Facts & Legends

A unique aspect of the Crayola Experience is the "Crayon Recycling Program," where visitors can bring in old Crayola crayons to be recycled into new ones. The facility houses a collection of over 100,000 crayons, representing a significant portion of Crayola's historical production.